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SPPD Sergeant Jimmy Fogata (fourth from left) receives congratulations after being honored as the National Association Citizens on Patrol Association (NACOP) “Coordinator of the Year.” Shown with Fogata (left to right) are Tom Carney (Director of Police Operations, North Miami Beach, FL), NACOP President/Founder Art Femister, Mike McAleavey (Perris Citizens Patrol Commander), Fogata, daughters Logan and Malone Fogata, wife Rhonda Fogata, father-in-law Mike Huckaby, SPPD CP Martha Brown, SPPD CP Bill Quinlan, (rear left) SPPD CP Mike Gray. Also attending the conference were SPPD CP members Rick Barnett and Don and Bev Loomer. |
Sgt. Jimmy Fogata named national Citizens Patrol Coordinator of the Year
October 20, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Police Department
Santa Paula Police garnered a prestigious law enforcement honor when Sergeant Jimmy Fogata was named the national Citizens Patrol Coordinator of the Year. Fogata, a city native and 23-year SPPD veteran, was honored at the October 2 11th Annual National Association Citizens on Patrol (NACOP) Conference and Awards Program held in Chino.
The motto of NACOP is “Be Seen. Be Heard. Make a Difference,” and Martha Brown of the Citizens Patrol said Fogata has provided outstanding guidance, direction and encouragement to the Santa Paula chapter. Fogata was nominated by the Santa Paula Citizens Patrol, a group first organized in 1994 that four years later found itself in the doldrums. “Taking on a program with attendance at an all time low,” Brown said Fogata “was instrumental in putting together an academy-like program for all local citizens to discover what police face in our city.”
Said SPPD Chief Steve MacKinnon, “The national association has recognized Jimmy for something we have known here in Santa Paula for a long time - that he has been committed to this effort for a dozen years and all his efforts have paid off big dividends to the police department and community. “In these tough economic times,” noted MacKinnon, “we simply could not be providing the level of services we do without the numerous contributions of our volunteers.”
First as a paramedic and then as a police officer, Fogata has served the city for more than 30 years, and, noted Brown, “Most everyone in Santa Paula knows, trusts and respects Sergeant Fogata.” Described as an “extraordinary K-9 handler, with years of extensive training in Ventura and surrounding areas under his belt,” Fogata has retired two legendary K-9s, Sultan and Evan.
“While on patrol, his rapport with children is incredible,” as, noted Brown, Fogata takes the time to show “compassion and caring during traumatic times.” His example on duty is “exemplary, and he carries out his duties with professionalism, all while he puts his life on the line to protect his community.” And, with fellow officers, Brown said Fogata “has gone to bat to allow Citizens Patrol to play a role in our community,” and as a result of his efforts “we are now proudly a part of the SPPD.”
Citizens Patrol, said Fogata, “Is a great tool... our officers are very receptive to it and see how valuable they are. They are definitely a major part of our team; officers know their capabilities.”
And such help is “Strictly free... they’re volunteers and don’t get paid, although our officers depend on them. Citizens Patrol is definitely a part of our team, just like any other division in the SPPD.”
Fogata said more should join Citizens Patrol: “Come into the station and go through the testing process.... It’s not something we just hand to people, and we want the best of the best - and that’s what we’ve got, we’re very privileged to have them and their dedication.”
And speaking of dedication: Fogata’s family showed up at the awards ceremony and surprised him. “I don’t know how they did it,” he noted with a laugh, as “I left at 5:30 a.m. and they were still asleep when I took off!”
Brown said Fogata leads “by example, and quietly is our friend and mentor outside of the police operations without special recognition or pay,” often sacrificing time with family to help Citizens Patrol members. He makes himself available via cell phone 24-7 to Citizens Patrol members, is an “above and beyond” tireless community volunteer, and attends all area events “to both interact with the community and insure their trouble-free success with his presence.”
Santa Paula Citizens Patrol members have experienced situations that, according to Brown, “we could never imagine,” and have learned by Fogata’s example “the difficulty that it takes to be both an effective yet compassionate modern day police officer.” He teaches leadership by his own example, and has effectively guided the group to become self-assured and strong far beyond what Brown said they thought possible.
“Because of Sergeant Fogata’s diligence, we have successfully completed training in many areas,” including patrolling, auto-site, radio communications, ride alongs, vehicle codes, traffic control, dispatch orientation, police ethics, criminal procedures and prevention, firearms training, CSI training, SWAT demo, K-9 demo, probation/gang training, report training, community awareness and participation. “Sergeant Fogata,” summed up Brown, “would literally take the shirt off his back for each and every one of us.”
