SPPD Officer Larry Johnson, Officer of the Year; CSO Rosalia Madrigal, Dispatcher Frank Garcia, SPPD Reserve Officer Susan Green also honored
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: January 02, 2009
The Santa Paula Police Officers Association honored Larry Johnson as 2008 SPPD Police Officer of the Year and lauded other department members with top honors at the joint SPPOA and Santa Paula Firefighters Association awards’ banquet.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
The Santa Paula Police Officers Association honored Larry Johnson as 2008 SPPD Police Officer of the Year and lauded other department members with top honors at the joint SPPOA and Santa Paula Firefighters Association awards’ banquet.
Also garnering top awards for their dedication to duty and community were Santa Paula Police Community Service Officer (CSO) Rosalia Madrigal, Dispatcher Frank Garcia and Reserve Susan Green.
The awards’ banquet was held Dec. 13 at the Crowne Plaza at Ventura Beach.
Mayor Ralph Fernandez as well as Councilmen Bob Gonzales and Fred Robinson also attended the event attended by Santa Paula police and firefighter departments’ personnel.
Public safety, Robinson told the crowd, “Is critical to a successful society” and without same, “nothing else matters...” to a community.
SPPOA Vice President Sgt. Ryan Smith - assisted by Police Chief Steve MacKinnon, who offered each award recipient his personal congratulations - announced those being honored for their law enforcement efforts in 2008.
Madrigal, according to SPPOA Vice President Sgt. Ryan Smith - honored as the 2007 SPPOA Officer of the Year - was selected CSO of the Year due not only to her effectiveness in all she does but also her taking on extra duty that continues to supplement the understaffed force of full-time Officers.
A member of the SPPD since 2006, “She works as a Community Service Officer all day long,” and then, Sgt. Smith noted, Madrigal changes uniforms for duty as a SPPD Reserve Officer.
Dispatcher Garcia is just one of those who Sgt. Smith said deserves much credit for being the first in line for those citizens seeking help.
And Garcia, Sgt. Smith noted, although only with the SPPD since 2007, has already proven to be “Very calm, I’ve never seen him get upset,” no matter the state of mind of the emergency caller nor amid the large volume of 911 calls regularly received by the police department.
SPPD Reserve Susan Green, who joined the police department in 2005, was recognized as Reserve Officer of the Year for her dedication to duty and the community.
Officer Johnson, who started his SPPD law enforcement career as a Reserve Officer in 2005 and upon graduation from the academy became a full-time Officer about 18 months ago, “Does an exceptional job” both as a reactive and proactive peace officer, said Sgt. Smith
As recently as November Officer Johnson was recognized with two other SPPD Officers for their quick reactions and vital life-saving skills when they were first on scene of a resident needing CPR, just another and often overlooked facet of policing.
Officer Johnson’s consistent hard work and devotion to duty has led to not only many arrests but also to his and other Officers’ strong efforts in “Preventing a lot of violent crime,” said Sgt. Smith.
Sgt. Smith said Officer Johnson earned the 2008 Officer of the Year Award for outstanding dedication to law enforcement and keeping the community safe for the citizens of Santa Paula.
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