Deputy Monica Blendowski has worked for the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 10 years, and is assigned to the Community Policing Division. She is a dedicated law enforcement professional who invests much of her time building relationships with multi-cultural groups who live and work in our community. Monica places special focus on our minority and immigrant community members who oftentimes face language barriers and have difficulty with matters of public safety.
As an immigrant herself, Monica is sensitive to the specific needs and issues which face a diverse group of citizens. In addition to English, she is fluent in Italian, German, and Spanish languages. Deputy Blendowski recognized a need for police officers, deputies, and troopers to communicate safety messages to citizens who speak different languages. She has taken the initiative to create and design a Domestic Violence questionnaire written in Spanish, which gives Spanish speaking victims of domestic violence a tool to communicate with officers. Victims may also request assistance for themselves and family members from victim advocacy groups who offer help.
The need for communication between law enforcement and Hispanic community members continues to grow, so Deputy Blendowski strives to implement new ways of communicating updated traffic safety information. She transcribed important traffic safety tips, which include Oklahoma laws and legal updates regarding child restraints and seat belt requirements for Spanish-speaking drivers. She also used her experiences to create pamphlets which advise the Hispanic community how best to handle traffic stops and various interactions with police.
Deputy Blendowski supports her law enforcement partners like the Oklahoma ABLE Commission, by translating important legal information. She also teaches Oklahoma liquor laws to the Latino community, so they may have critical information to remain in compliance with current alcohol and liquor laws, thus increasing a safe environment for everyone.
She is directly involved with Tulsa area public schools, and provides law enforcement interaction with students, faculty and parents. Monica is known to set up booths for children who get a hands-on first-hand experience with DUI goggles, and answers to many questions’ kids pose regarding DUI driving and staying safe.
Deputy Blendowski continues to use her knowledge of various cultures, and her passion for public safety, to create innovative methods of pushing the traffic safety message to the people of Tulsa County and Northeastern Oklahoma. She is a credit to the law enforcement profession and to those she serves. It is with great esteem that we present the “Trooper Nicholas Dees Memorial award” to Tulsa County Deputy Monica Blendowski.
Pictured: OHP Chief Brent Sugg, Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler, Tulsa County Deputy Monica Blendowski and safety advocate Mike Garner
