PUBLIC SERVICE: Palm Bay Police Department Honors Bonnie Hipwell With October’s VCOP Spotlight

By  //  October 19, 2021

moved to Palm Bay in 2015

Bonnie’s desire to get more involved in her community prompted her to search online and found the opportunity to volunteer at the Palm Bay Police Department. Since joining in October 2019, she has served at the front desk, writes the monthly VCOP spotlights and recently accepted the position of Front Desk Manager. (PBPD image)

BREVARD COUNTY • PALM BAY, FLORIDA – In 2015, when Bonnie’s husband Ron said the word “reTIRE”, she heard “reFIRE” and she’s still burning the candle at both ends!

Bonnie and her family, which consists of two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren, have always served in their local church.

When they moved from Pennsylvania, they chose Palm Bay because it resembled the tropical environment they were used to from living in Mexico for 6 years and Costa Rica for a year.

As missionaries, they taught in a seminary there, immersed themselves in the culture, and became fluent in Spanish.

After moving to Palm Bay in 2015, and because their youngest son Ryan was still in high school, Bonnie volunteered her talents there to help with music, theater, cross country and track.

She was asked to serve at Tomoka Christian Church at the front desk and now coordinates the missions program and plays the keyboard in the praise team.

In addition, their goal of visiting all 50 states is almost completed, with North Dakota and Hawaii being the last two. In June, she and Ron toured Alaska to complete the 48th.

Her desire to get more involved in her community prompted her to search online and found the opportunity to volunteer at the Palm Bay Police Department.

Since joining in October 2019, she has served at the front desk, writes the monthly VCOP spotlights and recently accepted the position of Front Desk Manager.

If you meet Bonnie, she seems very soft-spoken, but don’t let that fool you! Her energy, commitment and conscientiousness are displayed in the way she completes every project.

If you have four hours a week you could volunteer at the Police Department, send an email at vcop@palmbayflorida.org or call 321-953-8987.

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