Menifee PD celebrates one year of service with awards event

A large crowd watches Menifee PD officers hired since the July 1, 2020 launch sworn in at Monday's city event. (Photo credit: Menifee 24/7)

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The entire Menifee Police Department gathered at Fairfield Inn & Suites Monday for the department’s first annual awards and swearing-in ceremony.

City of Menifee staff members, City Council members and regional dignitaries joined hundreds of police officers, their families and friends at the event, which was held just 10 days before the first anniversary of the Menifee PD’s launch on July 1, 2020.

Attendees included Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Hewitt, members of the Murrieta Police Department, representatives of State Senator Melissa Melendez and Assemblyman Kelly Seyarto, and Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin. As part of the ceremony, the 32 members of Menifee PD who have joined the department since the July 1 launch participated in a ceremonial swearing in by Hestrin.

“We are at a crossroads in this country between chaos and order,” Hestrin (left) said before swearing in the newest officers. “These police officers in this city keep chaos at bay. Without them, we don’t have a civilization. We don’t have a community. We don’t have a neighborhood. So I want to start today with a note of gratitude. From all the civilians, we thank you, all who don the badge and the uniform. We want you to know that when you patrol the streets, we are behind you 100 percent.”

Menifee city manager Armando Villa thanked the officers “for the fine work they do every day to take risks to keep us safe. And thank you for taking the risk to be part of history.”

As the newest group of officers were introduced to be sworn in, the vast reach of the opportunity to help build a new police department from the ground up became obvious. In addition to officers who left police, Sheriff’s Department and CHP units throughout Southern California, officers have come to Menifee from as far away as Oakland, Wyoming and Philadelphia.

Prior to the swearing-in ceremony, Menifee Police Chief Pat Walsh addressed the audience and introduced Captains Dave Gutierrez and Chris Karrer, Lieutenants Denise Keith, Heriberto Gutierrez, and Abigail Valle, and Support Services Manager Danita Robertson. They announced the recipients of awards in several categories.

Six officers received the Life Saving Award for their part in saving the lives of persons while on duty during the last year.

Sergeant Daniel Higgins and Sergeant Matt Bloch were recognized for their role in the rescue of an elderly female from a burning senior apartment complex in the Sun City community in October. Following up on efforts nearby residents had made to gain entrance by breaking a window, Higgins and Bloch entered the smoke-filled apartment and brought the woman outside to safety.

Bloch was honored again along with Officer Joshua Fernandez for their part in saving the life of a 66-year-old man who collapsed while riding his bicycle near the intersection of Haun Road and Holland Road in March. Honored with Distinguished Citizens Certificates for their live-saving efforts in that case were firefighter Jeff Pizillo, paramedic Ravyn Hrowal and nurse Claudia Moya, all off-duty from other Southland emergency departments. The use of CPR and a defibrillator by these individuals revived the patient.

In addition, Sergeant Corey Cox and Joshua Ramirez received Life Saving Awards for gaining access to a locked car and reviving an unresponsive 73-year-old male in a vehicle at the intersection of Newport Road and Haun Road. Officer Dennis Tollefson was honored for reviving an unresponsive male suffering from an overdose in a restroom at Spirit Park. The man, who had no pulse, made a full recovery.

The one award that was a surprise to the recipient was the Chief’s Award, given to a department member who displays a positive attitude, consistency in performance, teamwork, integrity, and honesty. That was presented to Walsh’s executive assistant, Sheila Lawton.

Supervisor Hewitt complimented members of the department and city officials on their part in one of the few creations of a municipal police department in California in recent years.

“You showed you can get something done when the will is there,” Hewitt said. “To do it in a city the size of Menifee is absolutely astonishing. The way to beat your detractors is by success. What you have done … this is the difference between chaos and order.”

Other award recipients:

Certificate of recognition: Officer Onyemauche Agbodike, Crime Analyst Nicole Epps.

Exceptional Service Award: Officer Gabriel Lozano and dispatchers Mattie Medina, Michelle Castro, Auralee McGinnis, Katelynn James, Gianna Bresnahan, Sonia Hasso, Rebecca Valerio.

Fitness Award: Evelio Carrera, Corey Cox, Trong Dinh, Andrew Gonzalez, Amber Marcinko, Nicholas Martin, Christina Reveles, Tiffani Sik, Jacob Tomes, Jasmin Victorio.

Team Achievement Award, Investigations Bureau: Sergeant Jason Adams, Detective Tony Urich, Detective Terence York, Crime Analyst Nicole Epps, Sergeant Raul Perez, CSI Chonte Keene, Detective Nicholas Martin, Detective Danny Beare, Detective Amber Marcinko, Investigative Specialist Laura Barnes, Officer Michael Turrell, CSO II Nicole Kemp, CSO Raquel Castro.

Team Achievement Award, Records Bureau: Records Techs Jacqueline Kashima, Jasim Victorio, Yvette Magdaleno, Patty Rodriguez.

Team Achievement Award, Field Training and Program Development: Sergeant Raul Perez, Senior Police Personnel and Training Analyst Tiffani Sik, Sergeant Chris Carrino.

Menifee Police Chief Pat Walsh and his lieutenants present awards to members of the department.

 Menifee Mayor Bill Zimmerman joined city manager Armando Villa (left) in addressing the audience.

Officers salute the American flag during the presentation of colors at the start of Monday's program.