10/08/2026
Officer Jeff Pennings recently received a challenge coin from members of our Fox Cities Victim Crisis Response Team , but the story behind it is what really matters.
Jeff and our VCR volunteers responded together to a difficult call involving someone going through a vulnerable moment. The volunteers described Jeff as calm, compassionate, and kind, and said the way he handled the situation helped the victim feel safe and supported.
During the call, the victim shared that she was going through a difficult time in her life. Jeff did not just handle the immediate situation and move on. He looked for ways to help, support her, and give her room to take the next step forward.
VCR Volunteer Coordinator Sheryl Dingman later shared the volunteers’ feedback with us:
“They had never personally seen an officer take that approach and felt it demonstrated genuine compassion and a desire to help beyond simply addressing the immediate incident.”
The victim also told the VCRs that this was the best experience she had ever had with police.. That is pretty powerful feedback. A lot of police work never makes a headline. Sometimes it is simply slowing things down, recognizing someone is having a rough day, and finding a way to help.
