Revere Police Dept. Chief Callahan honored by Dept. of Defense for Patriotic Support

Special to The Advocate

Revere Chief of Police David J. Callahan received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award presented by Colonel Richard Cipro, Army Chief of Staff, Mass. National Guard, on June 13, 2023, for the extraordinary support he provides to his employee Sgt. First Class Sean Matthews.

“The Patriot Award was created by ESGR to publicly recognize individuals who provide outstanding patriotic support and cooperation to their employees who have answered their nation’s call to serve,” said ESGR State Chair Paul Zbikowski. “Supportive supervisors are critical to maintaining the strength and readiness of the nation’s Guard and Reserve units.”

“National Guard and Reserve members bring tremendous skills and capabilities to our workforce, and employer support for their military service is critical to maintaining the strength of our Guard and Reserve units,” said Zbikowski. “By valuing the military service of their Guard and Reserve employees, employers are directly supporting the readiness and retention of our All-Volunteer Force, and our national defense.”

Sgt. First Class Sean Matthews said, “Chief David J. Callahan has been extremely supportive. In this stressful time, despite his own personal and work issues, he keeps in constant contact with me. He contacts me on a weekly basis to check in on my overall well-being. No matter the big difference between Kuwait time, and EST, he always has time for a chat. He continually reassures me that my specialized position in the Revere PD will be held for me. He has continued to pay me my full wage, even though he’s under no legal requirement to do so. In this time of rapid inflation on everyday items knowing that my family are financially secure is a huge relief. Likewise, he has kept in frequent contact with my wife. My wife is a working mother of two. Knowing that Chief Callahan has a personal interest in my well-being is a huge relief to her at this time. Chief Callahan’s high level of support has greatly eased the pressures of this deployment.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense program that develops and promotes supportive work environments for service members in the National Guard and Reserve through outreach, recognition and educational opportunities that increase awareness of applicable laws. ESGR also assists in resolving conflicts between Service members and their employers. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call 800-336-4590 or visit www.ESGR.mil/MA.