PHX Reporter

Buckeye Police Department officer Jonathan Kacer was recently honored for his commitment to his job, one that is said to exceed the call of duty and prompting a congratulatory message from Gov. Doug Ducey.

Kacker was named Officer of the Year by the 100 Club of Arizona and honored at the annual Schectherle Gala held Nov. 23 at the Phoenix Art Museum in downtown Phoenix. In a message posted on his Facebook page, Ducey wrote, "Congratulations to Buckeye Police Department officer Jonathan Kacer on being named Officer of the Year by the 100 Club of Arizona. "Thank you for all you do to protect and serve Arizona."

The 100 Club's highest honor, recognizes Kacer's "dedication to the citizens of Buckeye, which far surpasses the 'regular' duties of police work," a Buckeye PD news release noted. "Officer Kacer exemplifies every core value of a public servant. He grew up in the Buckeye area and has an incomparable commitment to the community."

The department said the officer is described by his colleagues as "exceptional" and someone who can identify the good guys and the bad guys on his beat.

Kacer, a native of Buckeye, is also known to help organize a fundraisers at his home for other officers in need and for assisting an elderly couple who were burglary victims.

“When I learned that John Kacer was going to be Officer of the Year, I really wasn’t surprised. John encapsulates every quality a police chief and a community member looks for in a police officer,” Buckeye Police Chief Larry Hall said in a statement.

All proceeds from the gala support the 100 Club’s programs and scholarships that ultimately help first responders in Arizona.

More than 40 years old, the 100 Club's stated mission "is to provide financial assistance to families of first responder who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty and provide resources to enhance their safety and welfare. We have proudly served the public safety community since 1968."