Latest news with #Chief'sAward
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Yahoo
El Paso Police Department honors compassion, valor at 2024 awards
The El Paso Police Department recognized compassion, bravery and dedication to service at its annual awards ceremony. More than two dozen awards were presented by El Paso Police Chief Peter Pacillas to EPPD police officers and civilians, who were honored for their efforts in helping others, at the department's annual awards ceremony for 2024 earlier this month. Here are the award highlights: El Paso resident Ruben Montellano, who received a Chief's Award, was walking home from the Walmart Neighborhood Market store on Saul Kleinfeld Drive when he noticed a man at a bus stop who was visibly distraught, an award summary stated. Instead of walking past, Montellano sat down and started a conversation with the stranger, who "confided that he had been kicked out of his home, hadn't eaten, and was contemplating stepping into traffic," the summary stated. Crime: Man killed in shooting on Morehead Avenue in Central El Paso neighborhood Montellano notified police, offered the man something to drink and stayed talking with him. Officers arrived to find Montellano seated next to the man, holding his shoulder in a gesture of support, the summary stated. "Ruben's quick thinking, empathy, and willingness to help a stranger in crisis likely prevented a tragedy. His actions are a true reflection of community spirit and humanity," the award summary stated. Officer Matthew Urquidi of the Special Traffic Investigations Unit was honored as the 2024 Officer of the Year. He was described as "tireless, thorough and deeply committed to justice" in an award summary. Archives: Bravery, dedication: El Paso police honor officer, detective of the year for 2023 Urquidi displayed "exceptional drive, skill, and heart" when he kept digging, pouring everything into a fatal hit-and-run investigation leading to the arrest of a suspect and uncovering a human smuggling operation while also assisting in a separate intoxicated manslaughter case, the summary stated. Detective Adrianne Zamora of the Crimes Against Persons Unit led several sexual assault investigations last year, showing compassion, determination and a relentless pursuit of justice, an award summary stated. She was named 2024 Detective of the Year. Zamora was also recognized for always being willing to step in to help other detectives in difficult cases. "She is a shining example of the strength, heart, and professionalism we strive for in this department," the summary stated. The Medal of Valor was presented to Officer Ivan Valdez for his bravery in saving a woman who was being attacked by a man armed with a knife in 2023, an award summary stated. Valdez responded to a call of a domestic disturbance in progress when he heard a woman in distress and looked through the window of a home to see the woman being threatened by a man with a knife, the summary stated. "With no time to spare, Officer Valdez forced entry into the home. He found the woman injured and pleading for help as the man began to attack her. With no other option, Officer Valdez used lethal force to stop the threat and save her life," the summary stated. The suspect, Juan Carlos Marquez, 49, died at a hospital after the police shooting, which occurred at an East Side home in the 2600 block of Schooner Drive on Sept. 11, 2023, according to El Paso Times archives. The 2024 Supervisor of the Year award went to Sgt. Christina Mendoza of the Financial Crimes Unit for her dedication, initiative, community outreach and as an example to other officers, the awards summary stated. Mendoza oversees three sections — Digital Forensics, Fugitive Operations and White-Collar Investigations — responsible for hundreds of investigations ranging from fraud to the capture of high-risk fugitives, the summary stated. The EPPD Metro Unit, with its Downtown bicycle patrols and work maintaining order, addressing threats and dealing with large crowds of vulnerable people during the past migrant refugee influx, was named the 2024 Unit of the Year, an award summary stated. The Metro Unit exemplified teamwork and was a reliable and visible presence at public events, protests and in calls for service as well as fighting criminal activity near shelters, community relations and clean-up efforts, the summary stated. Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@ and @BorundaDaniel on X. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso Police Department 2024 awards honor officers, residents
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Yahoo
Waterford police names its officer of the year
Waterford — The police department has given its Officer of the Year" award to Zachary Bushwack. Police Chief Marc Balestracci, who presented Bushwack with the award last week in the department's community room, said it's given annually to the officer who exemplifies leadership, willingness to help their fellow officers and goes "above and beyond" their service to the community. "Really it's (for) officers who are taking on more than they have to," Balestracci said. "They are providing real value to our community. And not only are we seeing it out there, but the people in the building are also seeing it." He said Bushwack, 33, was nominated by several of his fellow officers. One thing Balestracci said had impressed him about by Bushwack, was how he handled an assignment to train and develop a fellow police officer. "This task was challenging on many levels, yet Officer Bushwack not only accepted this task willingly, he delivered results that were sought," he said. "I held a meeting with 11 of our newest officers last year, and I was informed by the majority in attendance of his incredible work and leadership that he delivers on the road and to the public he serves, as well as to the officers he works with," he said. Bushwack, an officer here since 2019, kept his reception speech brief, thanking officers, administrators and family members. "Hopefully I can keep improving and progressing here," he added. Bushwack later said he wants to "make sure that the agency as a whole, the guys that who coming up with me, that I work with, that we're all on the same page and we can do good work. We've got a hard-working department here." "There is not a single bad thing I can say about the guys we work with," he added. The award came with a pin for Bushwack's uniform, a plaque, a $50 gift card and having his name engraved on the plaque that hangs in the community room. Balestracci said a few months ago Bushwack had been presented with the Chief's Award, for his willingness to provide emotional support to members of another police department in the wake of an officer's suicide. The Waterford department had dealt with the same issue two years ago. "We went up to that department, and they had a debrief, and we talked with them, and told them kind of what we went through as a department. And how we grieved, and how we got through that process. And he volunteered to do that," Balestracci said. "It was kind of a similar scenario, without getting into details," Bushwack said. "There wasn't much that we could do, or say, but we knew how they felt, so it was more of just — a support outlet.
