Bellevue Police Volunteer Khawja “Shams” Shamsuddin received the Governor’s 2011 Outstanding Volunteer Service Award at a reception on April 11 at the Governor’s Mansion in Olympia. The award, in its 7th year, is presented by Gov. Gregoire on behalf of the Washington Commission for National and Community Service to citizens who “effect real change in their communities through volunteer service.” The award is presented to coincide with the start of National Volunteer Week.

Shamsuddin has been a Bellevue Police Department volunteer for more than 12 years and has served in excess of 2,600 hours, primarily at the Factoria Community substation. Throughout the years he has participated on several entry level officer oral boards and is a member of Police Chief Linda Pillo’s Diversity Focus Group, which helps the department better understand and respond to the needs and concerns of the city’s various ethnic communities.

When not volunteering at the police department, Shamsuddin is a mediator, interpreter, community relations advisor, and fundraiser in the local Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Arab, and Indian communities. He also is a sought-after speaker with the Islamic Speakers Bureau and an organizer for the Eastside Interfaith Group.

As Bellevue Police Volunteer Coordinator Marjorie Trachtman wrote in his award nomination, “Being of service to others is as instinctive to Shams as breathing. (He) embodies the values this award seeks to recognize.”

“We are so fortunate to have such dedicated citizens volunteering with our Department. Their efforts are part of the reason we’re able to provide such a high level of service to the community,” Chief Linda Pillo said.

Shamsuddin is the second Bellevue Police Volunteer to receive this award. In 2009 long-time Police volunteer Susan Allen was honored for her contributions to the Department and the City of Bellevue.