2011 Award Recipients

	Chief of Police Citation of Vision In 2007, Sergeant Bruce Thomas created the Oro Valley Adopt-A-Business program. The program brings local businesses and law enforcement together, working cooperatively to solve problems, such as shoplifting, vandalism and fraud. It builds relationships that foster support for each other, combining resources to protect the quality of life within our Town. Forty-one police officers have adopted 144 businesses. Sgt. Thomas crafted the mission for the Adopt-A-Business program, "The purpose of Adopt-A-Business is to improve communication and to build partnerships between the Oro Valley Police Department and the Business community, to dispel rumors, build trust and confidence and nurture an important resource.
Picture Unavailable	Chief of Police Citation of Vision Officer Antonio Soto received the Chief of Police Citation of Vision award in 2011.
	Chief of Police Citation of Vision Before Jim could complete his patrol training for the Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP), he assisted our IT Detective in the transition of narrow banding radios and deploying the Mobile Data Computer upgrade. This involved numerous hours of research, contacting vendors and tracking down each radio from every officer and volunteer. His work put the Department ahead of schedule in the FCC mandatory migration deadline of January 2013. When Jim is not assisting our IT Detective, he is doing patrol. He has most certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty with his willingness and enthusiasm to assist the Police Department and the community.
	Lifesaving Award Officer Nelson responded to a rescue follow-up. Communications advised that the caller was giving mouth to mouth to an unconscious victim. Officer Nelson found the victim pulseless, not breathing and he began chest compressions. After a few compressions, the victim gargled and Officer Nelson checked for a pulse. He located one and monitored it. It stopped again. He gave more chest compressions and the victim's heart began to beat loudly. He monitored his pulse until the paramedics arrived. The victim was transported to the hospital, where he was stabilized.
	Lifesaving Award Officer Beauchamp responded to a male subject who was not responsive nor breathing. Officer Beauchamp entered the home well prepared. He found the subject in a seated position, unresponsive and with no pulse. He immediately placed him on his back, flat on the floor, utilized the automatic external defibrillator and conducted CPR until the paramedics arrived on scene. Sadly the victim passed away a week later; however, it gave his family time to say goodbye.

Lifesaving Award

The officers arrived to an accident where the vehicle was resting on its driver side. It was immediately observed that a person's head was pinned between the vehicle's B-pillar and the concrete curb. The female victim was motionless and did not respond to Sergeant Hammons verbal questions. The pinned person made a gasp. Sergeant Hammons immediately attempted to push the vehicle up to relieve some pressure and possibly free the individual. As he pushed the vehicle, he heard the subject take a breath of air. Lead Police Officer Smith and Officers Rendon, Beauchamp and Sanchez arrived and helped push the vehicle. As Sgt. Hammons, LPO Smith and Ofcs. Beauchamp and Sanchez pushed the vehicle, Officer Rendon extracted her as carefully as he could. Once she was clear they let the vehicle down. The subject was transported to University Medical Center. She suffered brain swelling, ruptured spleen, broken ribs and a broken left arm. If the officers had not acted so quickly, the subject may not have survived.

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Sergeant Steve Hammons	Lead Police Officer Trey Smith	Officer Rick Rendon	Officer Ronald Beauchamp	Officer Joe Sanchez

Officer
Tim Baldwin

Lifesaving Award

Officer Baldwin responded to a "man down" call at the Big 5 Sporting Goods parking lot. He arrived quickly and advised via radio there was no pulse and that he was initiating CPR. Officer Rendon also arrived on scene and assisted with CPR. The paramedics arrived on scene and eventually took over CPR. When the subject was transported, he still did not have a pulse. The subject regained his pulse after additional emergency treatment in the Emergency Room at the Oro Valley Hospital. The subject eventually moved out of the Emergency Room and into the Intensive Care Unit.

Officer
Rick Rendon

Lifesaving Award

On January 8, 2011 at 1018 hours, Officer Tim Brown responded to an "Active Shooter" scene located in front of the Safeway at Oracle and Ina. Officer Brown arrived mentally prepared to face an armed suspect; but instead, he was immediately faced with a chaotic scene requiring medical attention for 19 victims. Officer Brown instantly altered his focus and began to render aid to the wounded. Officer Brown stopped to help a male Oro Valley resident who was shot in the left knee and was bleeding profusely. Officer Brown applied pressure to his wound with both hands in order to stop the bleeding and began to talk with him. After the knee was wrapped, Officer Brown observed blood starting to come from the victim's mouth. He located a bullet hole in the victim's back and a corresponding hole in his chest. He wrapped his chest and paramedics arrived and took over life saving measures. Officer Brown helped them load the victim onto a gurney and into the helicopter. In all, Officer Brown rendered aid to five of the 19 shooting victims on Saturday, January 8, 2011.

Chief of Police Unit Commendation

On January 8, 2011, at 1018 hours, Squad 2 of the Oro Valley Police Department responded to an "Active Shooter" scene located in front of the Safeway at Oracle and Ina. Sergeant Steve Hammons led Lead Police Officer Jeff Moore and Officers Daniel Hoyos, Jeff Thomas, Tim Brown and Manny Guerreo into the "Active Shooter" scene assisting the Pima County Sheriff's Department and the victims of this tragic event. As Squad 2 arrived, they were confronted with a mass casualty event that had not been contained or stabilized. As the ranking official on scene, Sgt. Hammons immediately took command and began directing rescue efforts. The rest of Squad 2 began to fill any and every roll necessary as soon as they each arrived on scene. Throughout the entire incident, Squad 2 officers worked relentlessly administering first aid to the shooting victims, preparing the landing zones for multiple rescue helicopters, shutting down the intersections associated with the event, containing the scene, clearing vehicles and businesses for suspects or victims, directing the media to their staging location, contacting and interviewing reporting parties and even assisted in the loading of victims into rescue helicopters. Squad 2 epitomized what it means to work as a team and in doing so certainly saved countless lives in the process.

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Sergeant Steve Hammons	Lead Police Officer Jeff Moore	Officer Daniel Hoyos	Officer Jeff Thomas	Officer Tim Brown	Officer Manny Guerrero

Citizen of the Year

In the Summer of 2009, Sergeant Amy Sloane and Officer Shawn Benjamin presented an overview of the Dispose-A-Med program to the Oro Valley Optimist Club. Don Cox stood out as the "go to guy" for the club in terms of allocating resources, providing hands-on assistance at the events and being the voice that reached all corners of the community. His efforts with the Dispose-A-Med program through the Oro Valley Optimist Club has certainly facilitated in this being a model program for multiple agencies.

Explorer of the Year

Jonathan Fisher joined the Explorers in 2010. He has brought a very positive and professional attitude to every meeting while participating in a leadership role. Fisher has attended almost every meeting and rarely misses a volunteer special event in the Town. Jonathan competed with many other Explorers to be on the SWAT Team. After several days of testing, Jonathan was chosen to be part of this team, beating out others with more experience. He continues to train for future competitions and finding ways to improve the post.

Volunteer of the Year

In 2005, John Lowe became a member of the Oro Valley Citizen Volunteer Assistants Program (CVAP). After completing patrol training, he became involved with CVAP activities on an almost daily basis. Besides patrolling the neighborhoods and shopping plazas of Oro Valley, he has served as Vice Chair of the CVAP Board of Directors since 2006. John does an exemplary job of supporting and filling in for the Chairman when necessary in order to maintain a smooth running operation. He is also a Field Trainer for the new CVAP members. He has spent countless hours updating the training program materials and improving the overall training program. John created a Skills Inventory which categorizes the many and varied knowledgable areas of the Volunteers. Due to economic times, John applied (and was granted) twice for a $1,000 grant which CVAP utilizes for snacks at events and gatherings.

Civilians of the Year

It is unusual to give an award to two civilians at the same time, but these two women do such an outstanding job, it was impossible to give an award to one without recognizing the other. Cassidy and Catherine are the backbone of the administration side of the Police Department. They are both extremely productive while being productive, flexible, pleasant and always ready to help. They have tremendous computer skills and make all us cops look good. These two women are extraordinary.

Catherine has a paralegal background which is a huge benefit to the Police Department because she will research and proof important documents and liability issues which we put our names on and take credit for. Often times, there will be a line of documents on her desk waiting to pass her inspection. She also does a fantastic job coordinating and maintaining the training budget.

Cassidy is a ball of energy and fun to be around but when you ask her to do something, you are often shocked at how quickly she gets it done. Cassidy coordinates all the off duty as well as handling all the administrative components of the hiring process.

Officer of the Year

School Resource Officer Dan Horetski is a living example of what an SRO should be. He is fully engaged in his environment and it is obvious to all that he loves the challenge of his job. He has worked in about every division of the Police Department and is very well rounded officer. He loves working with the young people in our community. When he is not working at the school, he is usually there on his own time coaching various sports or assisting in other capacities.

Chief of Police Medal of Merit

Officers responded to the southwest corner of La Cholla and Lambert for a single vehicle collision. The quadriplegic driver was driving northbound on La Cholla in her specially equipped Ford van, when her hands slipped off of the controls and she lost control of the van. The vehicle made an abrupt left turn and traveled 280 feet through brush and trees and an additional 88 feet down into a large ditch landing on a bail of hay. The vehicle began to smoke and she dialed 911 telling the dispatcher she was trapped and could not get out. As officers arrived on scene the vehicle was smoking heavily and fire was building under the vehicles engine area. Commander Larter, Sergeant Trevizo, Lead Police Officer Emidy and Officer Roth quickly entered the flaming vehicle and extricated the victim from the vehicle, removing her to safety as the vehicle became fully engulfed. Her service canine was not found in the vehicle. The victim suffered slight injuries and refused hospital transport, but was transported home by paramedics. Her service canine was shortly found and returned to her. The officers' deliberate actions, placing themselves in harms way, saved this victim from sure death.


Commander Jason Larter	Sergeant Carmen Trevizo	Lead Police Officer Simon Emidy	Officer Matt Roth

Chief of Police Medal of Valor

A student from an Oro Valley high school provided the Community Action Team (CAT) with valuable information regarding a heroin dealer. CAT started mobile surveillance on a vehicle matching the description. After activity that is consistent with narcotic transactions, CAT took action and conducted a reasonable suspicion stop on the two vehicles involved. Officers positioned their vehicles one in front and one behind the suspect' s vehicle. The suspect began to back the vehicle at a quick pace and made what appeared to be a deliberate movement towards the area where Officer Clegg was standing. The suspect slammed his vehicle into Officer Clegg's vehicle, narrowly missing Officer Clegg. Officer Clegg recognized the immediate threat to his own life and fellow officers and discharged his firearm to stop the suspect. Officer Clegg remained in control during the difficult and stressful circumstances; continued to detain the suspects and roped off the scene to protect evidence.