PRIDE In Our HEROES
EVENT ETIQUETTE
Thank you for attending tonight's ceremony.
Each year we honor those who have excelled in their call of duty and distinguished themselves. Please be courteous and mindful of other guests seated behind you should you decide to take a photo.
For your convenience, we will be posting a video of the entire ceremony online. We ask that all cell phones be kept on silent for the duration of the ceremony. Thank you.
TONIGHT’S PROGRAM
POSTING OF COLORS
PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD
NATIONAL ANTHEM
OFFICER MARY METHENY
WELCOME AND REMARKS
ED DECASTRO, ASSISTANT CHIEF
ANITA ROMAN, ANCHOR, FOX10
SPECIAL GUESTS
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
COPS VOLUNTEER EXCELLENCE
MEDAL OF LIFESAVING
MEDAL OF MERIT
MEDAL OF VALOR
POLICE CHIEF'S UNIT AWARD
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
MEDAL OF HONOR
CLOSING REMARKS
In Our HEROES
MESSAGE CHIEF from the
Welcome to the Phoenix Police Department’s Annual Awards Ceremony and thank you for being a part of this very special event. Tonight, we gather to celebrate the dedication, courage and outstanding service provided by the members of this department to the community they serve. The importance of honoring our everyday heroes cannot be overstated.
Each award presented tonight represents a story. One of commitment, teamwork, and an unwavering resolve to uphold the values of our department’s P.R.I.D.E. statement. One of those stories is heartbreaking. The tragic loss of Officer Zane Coolidge this past year, serves as a painful reminder of the real dangers our officers face every.
day. The outpouring of support and internal strength shown after his devastating loss, speaks to the fabric that makes the Phoenix Police Department special.
The sworn and professional staff of this Department make a difference in the lives of this community every day. I am so grateful for each of them.
Congratulations to all of tonight’s award recipients for going the extra mile when answering the call for help when someone needed it most. To the family and friends of our heroes, your support allows them to excel in one of the most challenging and rewarding professions.
On behalf of the Department, I would like to thank the Phoenix Police Foundation, our sponsors and all those who helped make tonight possible.
Enjoy the evening.
Dennis Orender Acting Police Chief
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Derek Elmore
Executive Assistant Chief Operations
Nicholas DiPonzio
Assistant Chief
Strategic & Tactical Services Division
Jennifer LaRoque
Chief of Staff
Sean Kennedy
Assistant Chief
Patrol Division
Ed DeCastro
Assistant Chief Investigations Division
Jeffrey Benza
Assistant Chief Administration, Organizational & Professional Development Division
Jody Wolf
Assistant Director
Technical Services Division
Joe Klima
Reserve
Assistant Chief Reserve Division
PRIDE In Our HEROES
DESCRIPTIONS AWARD
Volunteer Excellence Award
Selections are based on the number of volunteer hours worked, involvement with special activities or projects that help to promote the department's image or achieve its objectives, and over-all performance that meets or exceeds department standards.
Medal of Lifesaving/Certificate of Lifesaving
This medal is awarded to an employee for an act that results in the saving or preservation of a human life or lives that otherwise would have immediately expired without the employee’s direct involvement to provide first aid, medical, and/or physical intervention. Citizens are awarded the Certificate of Lifesaving.
Medal of Merit/Certificate of Meritorious Conduct
This award is presented to an employee for an act of courage and dedication to duty during the actual performance of a police service involving significant risk or danger to personal safety. Citizens are awarded the Certificate of Meritorious Conduct.
Medal of Valor
This medal is awarded to an employee for a conspicuous act of valor during the actual performance of a police service that involves risk of life and knowledge of that risk. The act clearly delineates valor from other forms of courage and is clearly above and beyond the call of duty.
Police Shield
This medal is awarded to an employee who, during the actual performance of a police service, sustains a significant injury or requires prolonged medical attention.
Police Chief’s Unit of the Year
This award is presented for the successful completion of a pre-determined, police-related, on-duty act(s) or continuing effort(s) by a group of employees who are working for a common objective.
Supervisor of the Year
Presented to a supervisor who has demonstrated excellence in leadership or management.
Medal of Honor
This medal is awarded to an employee’s survivor(s) for a line-of-duty death that occurs during the actual performance of a police service.
TONIGHT’S HOSTS
Anita Roman
Anchor, FOX 10
Anita Roman joined FOX 10 News in July 2011 and she co-anchors AZAM on weekdays starting at 4:30 a.m. Anita has reported on everything from presidential visits to deadly tornadoes to crime and education. She has reported the news for various networks in Springfield, IL, Las Vegas, NV, and Yakima, WA. The Illinois Times named Anita "Best Journalist."
Anita was born and raised in Chicago. She is fluent in Polish and didn't speak English until she was three years old. She attended DePaul University in Chicago, where she got a real taste of big city news. Anita has an enormous passion for television journalism. She feels that every story covered is an opportunity to make a difference and to help someone.
When she's not working, Anita and her fiancé love to pamper and spoil their Chihuahua "Shorty." They also enjoy hiking all the local mountain ranges and taking advantage of the gorgeous weather here in the Valley. On warm nights they take their 1963 Cadillac Convertible for a spin or hop on one of their custom motorcycles for a ride up Camelback Mountain.
Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro
Assistant Chief Ed DeCastro has proudly served with the Phoenix Police Department for nearly 25 years. Throughout his career he held numerous positions and ranks within the organization. Chief DeCastro has been a strong supporter of community-based policing and has remained committed to partnership building with the citizens of Phoenix.
Assistant Chief DeCastro has served at multiple ranks in the Maryvale-Estrella Mountain, Central City, and South Mountain Precincts. He later led the Assaults and Homicide Units in the Violent Crimes Bureau as their Lieutenant. He promoted to Commander in January 2017 and has served in the Maryvale/Estrella Mountain Precinct, the Violent Crimes Bureau, the City Manager's Office Liaison, the Training Bureau and the Family Investigations Bureau. In November 2023, he promoted to Assistant Chief of the Investigations Division.
Assistant Chief DeCastro was born and raised in Miami, Florida. Prior to his law enforcement career, he was a middle school math teacher in the very same precinct he started as an officer. Over his career, he has been the recipient of numerous department awards and commendations, to include Distinguished Service Award and the Police Chief's Unit Award.
PRIDE In Our
HEROES AWARD HONOREES
COPS Volunteer Excellence Award COPS Volunteer Excellence Award
Mr. Ed Seymour
Mr. Mike Seymour
COPS has more than 150 volunteers/interns who share their time and talent in a variety of different support positions amongst the police department bureaus. Their valuable service provides resources to the department, equivalent to thousands of dollars each year, and allows them to gain invaluable experience as part of the police family.
MEDAL OF LIFESAVING
Officer Nathan Abbitt #10661
Officer Jake Bayfield #10967
Officer Jade Benes #11673
Sergeant Christopher Berrelleza #8525
Officer Kristopher Bertz #9019
Officer Jody Bodway #8345
Officer Carlos Borquez #9681
Officer Adam Branovits #10640
Officer Steven Butler #5752
Officer Stephen Cullen #10431
Sergeant Matthew Curry #8888
Lieutenant John Cusson #7008***
Officer Alireza Davarzan #9629
Officer Candice Denning #10704
Officer Anthony Desanto #10787
Officer Logan Egno #9599**
Officer Jordan Farrell #10723
Officer Jody Fenn #10864
Officer Christopher Fessler #9500
Officer Michael Fischer #10119
Officer Senna Fuller #10534
Officer Ashley Gagnon #8560
Officer Manuel Garcia #10046
Officer Cameron Grafton #10980
Officer Jeffrey Ham #11025
Sergeant Gary Hamlett #9602
Officer Matthew Haney #11590***
Police Assistant James Headd #A5031
Officer Michael Higgins #7465
Officer Daniel Hinz #8042
Officer Bertie James #7229
Officer Brian Jones #10198
Officer Garrett Joyner #10952***
Officer Joseph Kapla #9091
Sergeant Mark Kincannon #6989
Officer Alexander Kubes #10954**
Officer Ashley Lannon #10622
Officer Patrick Larivee #9772
Officer Taylor Locke #10982
Officer Alexander Lokker #10516
Officer Tyler Luna #10264
Officer Kaylee Mailhiot #10985**
Officer Austin Martin #10675
Officer Samuel Martinez #11899
Officer Colleen Mastrangelo #11083
Officer Nikolas Misulich #10390
Officer Henry Naymick #11531
Officer Joseph Overly #10317
Officer Nathan Pauwels #11877
Officer James Perry #7158**
Officer Matthew Petchel #10937
Officer Alexandra Pridham #10269
Officer Daniel Provenzo #10076
Officer Gage Reiser #9714
Officer Efrain Reyes #11843
Officer Matthew Richardson #10845
Officer Brent Roberson #11613
Officer Ryan Robertson #10320
**Receiving multiple awards, same category
***Receiving multiple awards, different categories
MEDAL OF LIFESAVING
Officer Erik Rodriguez #10345
Officer Aldo Rodriguez Pinon #10395
Officer Tyler Russell #11099
Officer Valentina Sadiku #11593
Officer Joseph Safa #7378
Officer GraceMarie Schian #10621
Officer Ryan Schrank #10994
Officer Alexandra Siebert #10551***
Officer Ryan Small #10272
Officer Sean Smith #11098
Officer Nolan Stradling #10273
Officer Joseph Tocco #11181
Officer Joshua Totah #10350
Officer Dustin Vigesaa #7327
Officer Jacob Viviano #11032
Officer Seth Walters #10404
Officer Taylor Whitlock #9366
Officer Jeffrey Woods #7035
MEDAL OF MERIT
Sergeant Marcus Allen #7840
Firefighter Tristan Butters #3338
Officer Paul Guerrero #10897
Officer Nicholas Harrison #9473
Officer Garrett Joyner #10952***
Officer Michael Kaufman #10953
Officer Christopher Mulder #10990
Officer Mark Pereboom #11053
Officer Chase Reale #10794
Firefighter William Logan Ruhlen #2912
Officer Christopher Seils #9769
Officer Brent Urbatsch #9335
Officer Justin Walkenbach #10408
Officer Todd Whitbeck #5910
Officer Scott Wold #9761
CERTIFICATE OF MERITORIOUS CONDUCT
Ms. Carissa Frazier
MEDAL OF VALOR
Sergeant Ramel Colclough #8661
Officer Patrick Dewell #6839
Officer Cory Geffre #6500
Officer Matthew Haney #11590***
Officer William Rodriguez Gallardo #10038
Officer Nicholas Vargas #10051
CERTIFICATE OF VALOROUS CONDUCT
Mr. Jameel Kelewood
Mr. Alex McPherson
Mr. Luis Dimayuga Ozuna
POLICE SHIELD
Officer Adam Branum #8305
Officer Matthew Haney #11590***
Officer Sean Slavik #11828
SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR
Sergeant Nicolas Nolan #7790
POLICE CHIEF’S UNIT AWARD
Officer David Bachman #11033
Officer Jeffrey Blair #7966
Officer Jeremy Campbell #9021
Lieutenant John Cusson #7008***
Officer Taylor Dace #10562
Officer Christopher Denomme #10826
Officer Jordan Farrell #10723
Officer Alan Hoelscher #8618
Sergeant Beau Jensen #8326
Officer Jamie Jesty #R1587
Officer Matthew Kurth #8377
Officer Eric Larson #10263
Officer Brian Lowry #8476
Officer Andrew Mcclure #10712
Officer Anthony Mclain #10838
Officer Jon McQuillan #8926
Sergeant Mary Miller #7653
Officer Derik Neier #8999
Officer Alexandra Siebert #10551***
Officer Maribel Silva #10324
Police Assistant Tanya Simpson #A6367
Officer Brandon Speier #8105
Officer Robert Stika #10365
Officer Alicia Strnad #9059
Sergeant Joseph Stussy #7549
Officer Jacob Sweat #11125
Officer Timothy Tewers #8698
Officer Cameron Wells #8979
Officer Jesse Williams #8886
Officer Jael Zelman Lopez #8792
MEDAL OF HONOR
Officer Zane Coolidge #10914
Officer Zane Coolidge #10914
End of Watch: September 6, 2024
End of Watch: September 6, 2024
BOARD EXECUTIVES
Tim
Craig
Michael
PMT
BOARD
Rick
Robin
Michal
Rob
Robert
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support and sponsorship of the ceremony.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Thank you to all who support the Thank you to all who support the Phoenix Police Department Phoenix Police Department
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