Petaluma Police Cpl. Tamara Gilman To Retire

PETALUMA, CA - From Petaluma Police Department: The Petaluma Police Department is proud to formally announce the service retirement of veteran Peace Officer Tamara Gilman. Corporal Gilman has proudly served the Petaluma community for 21 years. Corporal Gilman has distinguished herself as one of the finest peace officers in Petaluma’s history best known for her aggressive pursuit of violent criminals and her caring and compassion while helping crime victims, community members in need, and her fellow co-workers.

Tamara Gilman’s selfless service to community began in 1996 when she began a career as a public safety dispatcher in Clearlake, California. In 1998 she joined the Petaluma Police Department, returning to her home town, and served honorably as a public safety dispatcher. Her performance as an emergency 911 dispatcher was exemplary and her ability to relate to and look after the community and the officers under her control brought calm and safety to chaos and danger. She quickly realized her abilities went far beyond being an effective emergency communicator and she pursued a second career on the other end of the radio.

Entering the Basic Police Academy on January 2, 2002, as a police officer trainee in Class 134, Tamara Gilman started what has become an exemplary career as a peace officer, community member, guardian, co-worker, and more importantly a good friend to so many.

Police Officer Tamara Gilman was sworn into office on May 26, 2002. She has served with distinction in a variety of assignments including patrol officer, hostage negotiator, domestic violence and sexual assault detective, and most recently as a field training officer and corporal as the second in command on her patrol teams.

Officer Gilman’s 17 years of service to the Petaluma community is noteworthy in several areas. She was appointed to the Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) in 2004 and has used her communication and de-escalation skills to peacefully resolve conflict and safely help people in crisis. She used her exceptional communication skills to relate to everyone and positively influenced everyone who had contact with her.

On July 10, 2010, Officer Gilman was promoted to Detective and assumed primary responsibility for all domestic violence and sexual assault investigations. As a detective, she developed a reputation amongst prosecutors as an aggressive and hard-working investigator who truly cares about bringing justice to crime victims. Detective Gilman would refine her investigative skills during a variety of high-profile cases including homicide, child abduction, stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, robbery, financial elder abuse, sex trafficking, and officer involved shooting investigations for neighboring law enforcement agencies. In three of her highest profile cases, she pursued three separate felony child sexual abuse suspects. In each of the three investigations she identified, located, and arrested the suspect. Her relentless pursuit of justice for the victims resulted in all three suspects being convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life for their crimes against children. Her work with victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking victims resulted in her becoming a member of the Board of Directors for Verity, a non-profit organization providing victim and advocate services. She successfully completed a full six-year tour of duty with the Investigations Team in July 2016.

While carrying a heavy case load in Investigations, she found the time to volunteer to help her co-workers as a Board Member for the Peace Officer’s Association of Petaluma. Concerned for the welfare of not just her co-workers, she has helped organize support for the spouses and partners of other police officers.

After completing her assignment with the Investigations Team, she transferred back to patrol and quickly pursued leadership opportunities with the Field Training Program. On July 17, 2016, she was promoted to Corporal.

On October 8, 2017, Corporal Gilman responded along with many of her fellow officers to the Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa. He performance during that disaster resulted in a Unit Citation for her and her fellow officers who risked their lives to save others.

In reviewing her personnel file, I found that Corporal Gilman received 64 Letters of Commendation and two nominations for Police Officer of the Year. The letters of commendation were from crime victims, suspects, co-workers, and community members she had helped over the years. They included family members left behind from fatal traffic collisions and veteran’s who needed help or were victimized. All of them were equally balanced with her exceptional performance and community engagement.

Her community engagement has been second to none. She represented the Department annually in the Every 15 Minutes Program designed to raise awareness for our high school youth in the dangers of impaired and distracted driving. Her efforts have helped contribute to zero fatal alcohol involved or distracted driving collisions involving our youth during her tenure. She has been present and engaged each year with the Special Olympics functions including the Tip A Cop Program at Applebee’s raising much needed funding for those with special needs. During each holiday season she has participated in the Shop with Cop Program sponsored by Target where kids in need shop with a police officer for gifts for the holiday. She has also stood with her co-workers in other community projects including Rebuilding Together Petaluma, the Police Department’s Bi-Annual Community Academy and the Elk’s Lodge 901 annual Firefighter Appreciation Dinners.

Corporal Gilman has not only helped crime victims, she demonstrated empathy and compassion often when she found herself responding to tragic situations where community members needed help.

Officer Gilman responded to a suicide attempt by an elderly male who was despondent about the poor condition of his home and financial situation. After getting the community member much needed mental health assistance, she organized a cleanup of his home, rounded up donations from local home improvement stores, and rallied volunteers to perform the work. When the man returned home his needed repairs were done and his home was clean and functioning.

Other examples of compassion include following up with a stalking victim and making sure the victim and her children were connected to services to provide shelter, food, counseling, and victim advocate services above and beyond what was expected by an officer.

In another example she contacted a mother with small children living out of a vehicle two weeks before school was supposed to begin. She organized fellow officers who collected school supplies and blankets to help them be comfortable in a motel room she helped facilitate for a week. The mother would later write the following letter to Corporal Gilman that demonstrates first-hand how she served everyone.

“I want you to know, and the Petaluma Police Department to know, that as someone relatively cautious of authority in general, I was touched by your behavior toward us in a way I didn’t know was possible. You treated us as valued, respected community members. And as my self-esteem has plummeted during these times of economic insecurity, to be treated this way was a surprise, indeed. The shame of homelessness and the sadness I have felt exposing my daughters to some of society’s harsher realities at such a young age, has played into my fear of failure as a parent. And yet again at the same time, this exposure led to our encounter with you and to a renewed faith that yes we are all in this together, yes we are all equal and that kindness and human decency transcends class, race and gender. This silver lining and lesson has been well received by my family. Thank you again.”

Recently, Corporal Gilman responded to a death investigation where a husband had died suddenly and unexpectedly. The mother without immediate family was left with two children and was pregnant with a third child. Corporal Gilman initiated a campaign through her friends and co-workers to provide donations of more than $3000 to help the family with expenses and food.

These are just a few examples of Corporal Gilman’s selfless service to others and this community. Her caring personality and her compassion for others allowed her to give everyone voice, be neutral in every situation, with dignity and respect, trustworthiness and goodwill of other in mind before herself. She has been a true leader in our organization and in our community and has positively influenced everyone she has touched.

Corporal Gilman has exemplified our performance principles of Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, Community, Organizational Excellence, and Winning Attitude. Her absence in our organization will be felt by everyone.

Please join me in thanking veteran Peace Officer Tamara Gilman for her service to our community, the City of Petaluma, and our profession and congratulating her on a well-deserved service retirement effective Monday, April 1st at 4pm.