May 5, 2009 - The Victim Witness Auxiliary Board and the Kern County Probation Department's Victim Witness Program have honored university police Sgt. Justin Gildner with a 2009 Victim Service Award. The honor was bestowed on April 29 at a special ceremony in downtown Bakersfield where Gildner and seven others were recognized for their dedicated service to victims' rights.

"At CSUB, I'm fortunate to be in a situation where I have the opportunity to prevent people from becoming victims," Gildner said. "There are a lot of support programs and resources that focus on helping someone after they have become the victim of a crime, but my passion is preventing them from becoming victims in the first place."

Gildner was nominated for the award by Janet Millar, CSUB's interim director of the Counseling Center, for his dedication to safety and education about victim issues during Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The awards ceremony included presentations by top law enforcement officers and community leaders, including Sheriff Donny Youngblood, Chief of Police Bill Rector, District Attorney Ed Jagles, and Mayor Harvey Hall. Gildner received a plaque, as well as letters of commendation from Senator Roy Ashburn and Assembly Member Jean Fuller.

"I was really taken back by the awards ceremony. It was a humbling experience to be honored by such a distinguished group," Gildner added. "I'm fortunate to have come to realize that the smallest interaction or piece of information can make a huge difference in the life of someone else. That's what I do every day. That is the true honor."

The awards presentation coincided with National Crime Victims' Rights Week.