5:15pm | More than 500 people packed the Carpenter Performing Arts Center Wednesday evening for the 43rd annual Long Beach Police Awards Ceremony, hosted for the second year this year by the Long Beach Police Foundation.
The ceremony feted scores of officers and employees of the Long Beach Police Department, citizens and officers employed by other law enforcement agencies for what was described as their distinguished service to the Long Beach community during 2010 “through brave and unselfish acts of heroism,” according the the ceremony program booklet.
“All of the heroes being honored today deserve the highest praise for their dedication and willingness to place themselves at risk in order to ensure the safety of others,” LBPD Chief Jim McDonnell and foundation President Daniel K. Walker said in a joint message inside the program.
Leading up to the presentation of awards was a bit of entertainment, including a performance by the Long Beach Police Pipe Band as well as a slide show entitled “A Look at the LB Police Department.”
Following remarks by McDonnell as well as Mayor Bob Foster, who was on hand to assist in distributing the various plaques and certificates, the awards portion of the event got underway.
The Chief’s Citation was presented to two outside law enforcement officers. Special Agent John Castanedo with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, a well-known gang expert, and Deputy Noah Kirk of the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.Both provided valuable assistance to the department relative to gangs.
Reserve Sgt. Frank Kuehn was named the Volunteer of the Year. In 2010, he volunteered 350 hours with the Search and Rescue Unit and another 597 hours as a reserve sergeant.
Unit Citations were awarded to the LBPD’s Emergency Communications Center; Honor Guard; Police Systems, Auto Records and Watch I Sections of the Records and Technology Division; and Homicide Detail, which was noted as having achieved a 90.3 percent clearance rate in 2010, the highest in 30 years.
The Chief’s Community Policing Award went to Officers Steven Costa and Chanel Kirk. Officers Jason Garcia and George Alaya were named the Sworn Employees of the Year, while Clerk Typist III Peggy Kincaid was named Civilian Employee of the Year.
Excellence in Leadership awards were presented to Forensic Science Services Division Administrator Elana Quinones and Gang and Violent Crimes Division Lt. Lloyd Cox.
Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award include Sgt. Erik Herzog, Officer Jonathan Calvert, Officer James Foster, Lt. Rick Colbert, Sgt. Charlotte M. Alu, Communications Supervisor Richard Funke, Communication Center Assistant Supervisor Robert Belcher, Det. Leticia Carranza, Officer Greg Brown, Officer Gabriel Carrillo, Det. Jennifer Kearns, Officer Manuel Banuelos, Sgt. Mark Cable, Officer Monique Hall-Glover and Public Safety Dispatcher Nannette Morrow.
The Meritorious Award for Bravery was presented to Officer Andrew Pringle; Detention Officers Guillermo Rodriguez, Curtis Adkins II, Lucio Murillo and Jemar Tucker; Officers Anthony A. Garcia, Jorge A. Grajeda, Duane Evans and Leroy Staes; Sgt. Julie Anderson and Officers Luis E. Corona and Todd Neveling; Officer Jose Orozco; Sgt. David Marander; and Sgt. James Bisetti and Dets. Victor Thrash, Timothy Everts, Jess Fragoso and Joel Camrin.
Community Service Awards were presented to civilians Taylor Ainsworth and Chan Pin.
The Meritorious Award for Heroism was presented to Sgt. Brian G. Tuliau and Officers Leticia Gamboa and Adam Sturgeon.
Probably the most memorable moment of the event was the awarding of Purple Hearts to the two LBPD officers who were injured last year in the line of duty. Officer Christopher Bates was seriously injured when a Metro Blue Line train collided with his black-and-white as he was responding to an emergency call. Sgt. Paul Gallo suffered three stab wounds to the head and ear after confronting a knife-wielding suspect.
Joining these two men in a poignant display were the recipients of Purple Hearts from the department each year since 1982. The Purple Heart Award was recently redesigned, and the past recipients were invited to participate in the event in order to receive one of the updated medals.
In addition to the department awards, four LBPD Explorers were honored by the foundation as the winners of the Daryle Black Memorial Essay Scholarship. First place went to Luis Cisneros, second place to Alma Magana and third place, in a tie, to Rodolfo Davila and Sacramento Mendoza Ramos.
The American Red Cross presented its CPR and First Aid Professional Responder Award to the following 10 LBPD officers: Christopher Brammer, Joshua Brearly, Andrew Calderon, Alejandro Cazares, Cris Costa, Matthew George, Juan Mendoza, Jeremy Runnels, Alex Saldana and Michael Woodridge.