San Lorenzo Man Named 'Hometown Hero'

San Lorenzo resident Dennis Tom has been named one of Comcast and the Bay Area News Group’s “Hometown Heroes.”

Tom was featured in an article and video segment for the series last week, which recognizes Bay Area residents who have made a positive impact in their communities.

Tom, 61, was selected for his past three years of volunteer service with the Castro Valley CHP.

According to BANG, Tom is the president of a 15-member senior volunteer group who assist both in the office and in the field with tasks such as processing tickets, answering phones, directing traffic at events, assisting with DUI checkpoints and delivering equipment and documents, among others.

The volunteers are also an extra set of eyes for the CHP and a “visual deterrent,” said Tom, who cruises unincorporated Alameda County in a Ford Crown Victoria patrol car, in his BANG interview.

“We cannot write a ticket. We can't point at somebody or use the PA to tell them to get off the phone, so we are just there to be kind of a lookout, and if we need help, we call in,” he said.

Tom, an Allstate insurance agent, started volunteering three years ago because he’s always wanted to be a police officer.

“I was always intrigued by what they do, how they do it, why they do it, and wanted to learn more about it,” he said.

Read more about Tom on BANG’s website.