Officer Elijah Scholl was named the 2025 Police Officer of the Year after his coworkers selected him via a secret ballot for his leadership and success in winning safety grants for the city.
During the Jan. 13 City Council meeting, Mayor Chris Kelley honored Scholl for a standout year that included bringing back long-dormant community programs and securing $75,000 in state funding.
Scholl’s path to the award began in the U.S. Marine Corps. After serving as an infantryman in Japan and San Diego, he put himself through the police academy and joined the Hercules Police Department in 2021. In just four years, he has moved from patrol to the elite Special Response Team and became a motorcycle officer after passing one of the most difficult training courses in the state.
His major achievements in 2025 focused heavily on community safety and education. Scholl was responsible for reviving the “Every 15 Minutes” program at Hercules High School for the first time in 15 years, an initiative that teaches students the life-altering consequences of drinking and driving. He also directly benefited the city’s finances by securing a $75,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety to fund checkpoints and local road improvements. Additionally, his work as a traffic enforcement officer has been centered on specialized leadership to protect both drivers and pedestrians throughout the city.
Police Chief Joseph Vasquez noted that Scholl’s peers chose him because he consistently puts service above self. Scholl accepted the award by thanking the department’s support staff and his family, stating that he is proud to serve the Hercules community.
