KCOY Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo - News-Santa Maria Police Department 2008 Award Recipients

Santa Maria Police Department 2008 Award Recipients

02/18/09

Support Employee of The Year

Training Coordinator - Chrissy Alvarez

This year's Support Employee of the year has been with our Department since 2007.  Chrissy has established herself as a true professional and team player who takes great pride in her work.  She is an extremely hard worker and always greets you with a smile.  Her organizational skills are follow-through is superb.  Chrissy has taken the time to network with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that our department is involved in all training opportunities.  Training is an extremely vital component of the Police Department and its employees and most of the time it is mandatory.  Ensuring officers are current on training is crucial and Chrissy does a fantastic job on striving for compliance.  Chrissy is a great asset to the Santa Maria Police Department and her community.

Dispatcher of the Year

Dispatcher Kressie Jeffers

This year's recipient of Dispatcher of the Year always strives to offer the highest level of service and consistently shows a remarkable le3vel of professionalism as she tends to her duties without fail.  Along with her many supervisory duties, Kressie conducts radio procedures training for all new Police Officer Recruits, teaches the Dispatch Academy at Allan Hancock College, and is a training officer for all new dispatchers.  Kressie consistently goes above and beyond to assist all the user agencies, co-workers and peers.

Supervisor of the Year

Lieutenant Jerel Haley

Lt. Jerel Haley has been with our agency for 9 years.  He has served our department in patrol, the Community Services Unit, the SWAT team, and the Detective Bureau.  During Lt. Haley's tenure in the Detective Bureau, he exemplified the qualities of a true leader.  He had an open mind and an enthusiasm to improve the operations of the unit and the department as a whole.  Lt. Haley's character has demonstrated humility as he knew when to admit his inexperience, how to learn from the experience of his detectives and putting his faith in them knowing they would do the best work possible.

In 2008, the department performed an unusually large number of homicide investigations, most notably, the Black Road homicide.  Lt. Haley assisted in these investigations, as well as other criminal cases and made use of his people's natural talents to ensure the successful dispositions of these cases.  He took the time to ensure the department recognized the work performance of the people he supervised.

Lt. Haley was also the SWAT team leader during this time frame and brought the team to a new level.  He led his team on numerous call-outs, which ended with the successful apprehension of violent offenders in our community.

Overall, Lt. Haley is a superb motivator and inspires those he works with to be better and do better.  Lt. Haley has made a lasting impression on those he supervised.

Officer of the Year

Corporal Daniel Cohen

This year's selected individual has an infectious positive can0do attitude.  Cpl. Cohen's tenacious nature, superior investigative skills and technical proficiency have enabled him to amass a year filled with tremendous accomplishments.  Cpl. Cohen has performed the function of a Field Training Officer.  He provided his trainees thorough instruction for all aspects of law enforcement - but they benefited most from his extensive investigative experience, as he would continuously expose them to high level crimes such as robberies or felonious assaults.  This individual assisted detectives throughout a complex, eight defendant stabbing investigation.  He shook the bushes in Tanglewood and interrogated numerous family members of a suspect.  As a result of his efforts, the suspect turned himself into the police departments back gate.  On another case, Cpl. Cohen provided expert testimony in Bakersfield during the trial of a 2004 gang murder & kidnapping case.  He also conducted the interviews of the three homicide suspects in the Zirate homicide in which he was able to yield a full confession and critical admissions from all three suspects.  Most recently, Cpl. Cohen interviewed a suspect from the 2004 homicide case of Jeremy Grinder.  The suspect provided the circumstances for the entire murder and named all of the involved parties.

Cpl. Cohen has not only excelled in the are of investigations but he has shown his ability to efficiently manage resources.  Through his efforts and guidance, Cpl. Cohen and his fellow Gang Suppression Team have drastically increased the amount of criminal street gang documentation and intelligence for our department. 

Distinguished Service Award

Corporal Robert Prescott

During the past several years, Cpl. Prescott has been responsible for getting the department's commercial enforcement program off the ground.  Cpl. Prescott has been certified by the California Highway Patrol to enforce commercial vehicle laws.  The purpose of the program is to ensure safe and efficient operation of commercial vehicles traveling through our city.  This is done by checking log books and examining the entire vehicle for safety to include weight and load distribution.  In 2008 alone, 429 commercial vehicles were inspected and 268 citations were issued.

Cpl. Prescott has also been involved with the 1033 Military Procurement Program.  He has been responsible for the acquisition of nearly $1 million in equipment for the city.  This equipment ranges from boots for the uniformed patrol officer to water purification systems for the entire city.  Much of the equipment he has acquired will be stored for future use during disasters or other emergencies.  To manage the 1033 Program, countless hours are essential in staying current on the paperwork as well as organization and storage.  Cpl. Prescott's commitment to the program is based on his feeling that this equipment will be of tremendous and possibly life saving value.

Distinguished Citizens Awards

John Everett

On July 14, 2008, police responded to a residential burglary on the 100 block of East Newlove.  The suspect contacted a lone female at her front door as she returned home and represented himself as a police officer.  When the female inquired about the validity of him being a police officer, he pushed her into her residence and produced a pair of handcuffs.  She was able to push him back outside and proceeded to yell for help.

John Everett was driving by when he heard the female screaming.  John followed the suspect to a common driveway where he strategically positioned himself until police arrived.  Due to the positioning of John and his vehicle, officers were able to quickly contain the area.  Based on evidence of forced entry, K-9 units were sent into a residence and located the suspect in a back bedroom.  John Everett's efforts and quick response were instrumental in the capture of the suspect.

Richard Lopez, Ernesto Cabanas and Abdiel Martinez

On October 20, 2008 a 19 year old suspect attempted to take the purse of a Food Maxx customer as she was leaving the store.  During the incident, the customer was thrown to the ground as she struggled to keep possession of her purse.  The victim's boyfriend came to her aid by using his necessary walking cane to strike the suspect on the back.  The suspect eventually admitted defeat and fled the area.  It was at this point Food Maxx employees Ernesto and Abdiel took action. They chased after the suspect on foot as he fled through the parking lot and out into the street.  Observing the commotion, customer Richard Lop0ez got into his vehicle to assist in the chase.  They caught up to the suspect, tackled him to the ground and held him there until police arrived.  Without their assistance, the suspect would have likely eluded capture.

David Hernandez and Martin Weaver

On the afternoon of March 6, 2008 David and Martin were having lunch and witnessed two suspects enter the Little Caesar's Restaurant.  The suspects wore bandanas over their faces and were armed with what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun.  Sensing that a robbery was imminent, David and martin immediately called 911.  They provided a description of the suspects to dispatchers and remained on the line.  The suspects violently assaulted the employee and fled in their Suburban prior to police arrival.  At the risk of their personal safety, David and Martin pursued the suspects in their own vehicle while continuing to provide updates to dispatchers.  During this time, a responding officer observed the Suburban pass by and instinctively felt the driver and passenger were suspicious.  David and martin passed the responding officer and pointed to the suspects' vehicle, confirming the officer's initial suspicions.

The responding officer pursued the suspects to a residence and held a perimeter until back-up arrived.  With the assistance of the SWAT Team, K-9 unit and the Santa Barbara Sheriff's helicopter the suspects were ultimately taken into custody.  Had it not been for the quick thinking and action of Martin Weaver and David Hernandez, the suspects would likely still be at large.

Ray Lopez & make Brady of Four Corners Towing - Distinguished Citizens

Mainline Auto Body - Distinguished Business

Calderon Tires - Distinguished Business

During the month of October, a habitual child molester was convicted for repeatedly molesting and forcibly raping his daughter for several years.  After the judge handed him his sentence of 126 years to life, he stood up to return to his cell and turned to the victim and began to clap his hands.  Worse, days before the sentencing, he signed over the only family vehicle to his female friend.  After court, with the female friend waiting to take possession of the vehicle, the victim bravely held her head high as she removed her personal belongings from the vehicle.  In addition to caring for her mother and siblings, she works full time and is working on her bachelor's degree.  Clearly, she needed this vehicle.

Sergeant Terry Flaa immediately offered $500 of his own money and spearheaded a plan to obtain a vehicle for the victim.  Terry was put into contact with Ray Lopez and Mike Brady of Four Corners Towing.  After hearing about the victim's situation, Ray Lopez selflessly donated a vehicle.  The vehicle was in need of new tires, body work and a through cleaning.  By utilizing his contacts in the auto industry, Mike Brady was able to get the vehicle refurbished; brand new tires were donated by Calderon Tires.  The employees of Mainline Auto Body donated their own time and completed the body work.  Mike Brady also cleaned the interior of the vehicle on his own time and had a new stereo installed.  When the vehicle was presented to the victim, it looked like it was straight from the showroom floor.  According to her, it was the nicest vehicle her family had ever owned.  She was truly touched and extremely grateful.

Sgt. Flaa and these businesses worked together and became a silver lining for the victim and exemplified the spirit of our community.