Philip Hollinger has been named the West Tisbury police department’s 2020 officer of the year, according to an announcement from the department.

Officer Hollinger joined the West Tisbury department in 2018 after graduating from the Martha’s Vineyard Reserve Academy. He graduated from the full-time police academy in 2019.

Prior to becoming a police officer, Officer Hollinger worked for the Trustees of Reservations and was an EMT for Tri-Town ambulance. He continues to maintain his EMT certification.

He recently attended training for both search and rescue and professional tracking, with the hope of creating a search and rescue team for the Island in the future, the announcement said.

A graduate of St. Lawrence University with a bachelor’s degree in political science, Officer Hollinger enjoys fishing and hunting.

He is currently assigned to the midnight shift. “If you are going on an early morning coffee run, pick up an extra one for him,” the announcement said.