Although Vienna Master Police Officer Tim Seitz, 42, didn't live in Vienna, he wanted to coach Little League baseball. For several years, Seitz did coach a Vienna team, even though he didn't have any children belonging to it.
While Seitz no longer coaches, his former team players and their parents still go up to him and say hello.
"He's very community-oriented," said Lt. David Pelto. "He takes the time to talk with people."
Seitz's involvement with the community recently garnered him recognition from the Vienna Woman's Club as Police Officer of the Year. As Officer of the Year, not only does Seitz perform traffic duty, but he serves on the Motor Squad and honor guard, instructs new recruits in the handling and firing of weapons, qualifies veteran officers, maintains the range and reordering of supplies, and teaches self-defense at the Vienna Community Center.
"He's an outstanding officer. He's the kind of guy you never hear a complaint out of," said Vienna police chief Bob Carlisle.
Seitz came to the Vienna Police Department 15 years ago, in July 1988. Prior to that, he was a state trooper in Pennsylvania.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Seitz had started out studying engineering at Youngstown State University, but switched to law enforcement administration after feeling engineering wasn't for him.
He came to Vienna in 1988 because he wanted to work in a smaller police department. For the last 13 years, Seitz has been assigned to the traffic squad.
"It's a nice small department," said Seitz of the Vienna Police. "We have 39 officers. And because [Vienna] is five square miles, you get to know a lot of people in the town."
Besides being traffic enforcer, rape defense instructor and a former Little League coach, Seitz also interacts with the community by participating in Santa's Ride, a program run by county police officers which collects toys for needy children during the holidays.
In his spare time, Seitz likes to play golf and work on his motorcycle.
"He best what represents what police work is all about," said Pelto, who nominated Seitz for the award.
For Seitz, the recognition by the Vienna Woman's Club was icing on the cake.
"I appreciated it. It was a nice honor. I really didn't expect it," Pelto said.