Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther presented certificates of appreciation this month to Stacey Sutherland and Dominic Ross for “their time, hard work and dedication” to the department.

According to the city, the pair provided many hours of “training and insight” to members of the department.

“We are proud to announce that with Stacey's help and diligence, we are now the first city to be CEASE (Cities Empowered Against Sexual Exploitation) certified in Arizona,” according to the department’s website.

Sutherland is a director at TRUST, which stands for Training and Resources United to Stop Trafficking. The organization provides education and resources on issues involving human trafficking.

“TRUST’s passionate and committed team members possess a wealth of knowledge and experience to bring awareness and foster community partnerships in Arizona,” its website states.

According to the department, Ross had a “perception of law enforcement” from growing up in several cities before moving to the community.

One day, he had a chance encounter with a Scottsdale police sergeant at a restaurant.

The officer “demonstrated and act of ‘paying it forward,’” and Ross was impressed, department officials said.

He and the sergeant started talking and became friends.

Ross shared his experience with other officers and gave them “a perspective on positive community relationships,” according to the department.