Mentor Police Thank Officer, Civilian Of The Year

Mentor City Council recognized the police department's officer and civilian employee of the year during its meeting Tuesday evening at .

Mentor Police Chief Daniel Llewellyn said the award was special because Lt. Dan Molnar and dispatcher Linda Holderman were both picked by their peers in the police department.

"These nominations come from within the department and they're voted on by everyone in the police department," Llewellyn said.

Hulderman started her career as a dispatcher in the city of Mentor in 1979, resigned in 1986 to raise her family and returned in 2007.

She earned the department's Exceptional Service Award in July 2011 for how she helped a young, suicidal caller.

"She has an amazing gift of being able to completely take control of a situation and of extracting information while always remaining empathetic and polite," her nomination read.

Additionally, Llewellyn told City Council that Hulderman's work ethic is "infectious."

Meanwhile, Molnar has served as a field training officer, evidence technician, SWAT team leader and was in December.

"As a supervisor, Lt. Molnar has successfully obtained the respect of officers working for him by treating officers fairly and believing in the ability of those working for him," his nomination read.

Llewellyn added that Molnar, as a 39-year-old, had the department's top score in its physical test.