2014 Tulare County Employee of the Year - Javier Gomez

Tulare County Probation Officer Javier Gomez is known to use his discretionary time mentoring at-risk youth throughout Tulare County.  This is above and beyond his county work assignments.  For that reason, Gomez’s honorable outreach efforts were acknowledged today during the Tulare County Board of Supervisors meeting when he was named the 2014 Tulare County Employee of the Year.

Gomez is currently assigned to the Probation Department’s Gang Resistance, Education and Training Program (G.R.E.A.T.), serving in the communities of Cutler/Orosi.  He is responsible for teaching 28 different G.R.E.A.T. Program classes, which reach over 700 students per year.  In addition, Gomez was selected by the Probation Department to be an instructor for the Success Through Achievement and Responsibility Program (S.T.A.R.) and played a major role in creating the program name and emblem design.

Gomez also participates in various events with the county-sponsored Step-Up Program and represents the Probation Department at Summer Night Lights events in communities like Goshen, Strathmore, Visalia, Porterville and Traver.  Aside from his assigned departmental duties, Gomez also found time to mentor county youth with the Pro-Youth/H.E.A.R.T Program at Golden Oak School in Visalia. 

Today, Gomez’s extraordinary efforts were publicly acknowledged.  The county employee was recognized by the Board of Supervisors as the 2014 Employee of the Year. Gomez is only the second Probation Department employee to receive the top honor.  The previous Probation Department Employee of the Year honoree occurred more than 20 years ago.

Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Steve Worthley said more than 120 County of Tulare employees were nominated from 22 different departments.

“Javier’s accomplishments in 2014 are an excellent example of our employees’ dedication and commitment to serving the residents and, most especially, the youth of Tulare County,” Chairman Worthley said. “Javier’s work with the community is deserving of the Employee of the Year honor and I am proud to have him be a part of the Tulare County family.  I commend Javier and all other nominees for making a difference and bringing extraordinary efforts to work day-in and day-out.”

Chief Probation Officer Christie Myer agreed with Chairman Worthley’s sentiments and expressed her pride in having Gomez as a member of the Probation Department.

“As with each and every nominee, Javier brings something very special to the workplace each and every day,” said Myer.  “From the perspective of the Probation Department, the work that he has done in Cutler-Orosi with the G.R.E.A.T. Program and with Pro-Youth Heart has been exemplary with respect to quality of life issues.  His commitment to excellence in serving the youth of Tulare County is outstanding and we are honored to have him working for our department.” 

In addition to being recognized as Employee of the Year, Gomez will also receive an additional week of paid vacation.

To watch the video of Chairman Worthley making the announcement, please click on the following link (apologies in advance for the shakiness): 2014 Employee of the Year