May 2010 Archives

The Pomona Police Department Awards Ceremony, which takes place every other year, was held at the Pomona Valley Mining Company on Tuesday.

Chief Dave Keetle said that at a time when resources are limited and the demands personnel face are high, Pomona police employees continue to do all they can to make the city "a better place to live and work."

"The expectations are high," Keetle said. However, officers "continue to do more with less."

Those recognized at the ceremony are just one part of the department and represent the many people who make it up, he said.

The top award, the department's Gold Medal of Valor, went to three officers: Officers Dan Gomez and Theo Joseph and Cpl. JT Garcia.

Joseph was recognized for his efforts to stop and capture a would-be rapist in Norco April 4, 2009.

Joseph, who was off-duty at the time, was in Norco to see his tax preparer, Rudy Lang, a retired Orange County deputy.

The two men heard a woman's screams coming from a neighboring business.

The men went to see what was happening and found a man, armed with a kitchen knife, apparently trying to rape a woman, Keetle said.

When Lang pulled the criminal off the woman he was attacked. Joseph, who was unarmed, then began to struggle with the criminal who tried to stab him before fleeing.

Joseph chased and caught the criminal and used handcuffs the criminal was carrying to restrain him, Kettle said.

"A sergeant with the (Riverside) Sheriff's Department said Officer Joseph displayed unusual courage in the apprehension of the suspect, and in his opinion, Officer Joseph had saved the female's life," Keetle said.

After the ceremony Joseph said the recognition was a bit overwhelming and added others would have reacted as he did.

"I feel it's something anyone would have done," Joseph said.

Garcia and Gomez were recognized for their actions related to a shooting that occurred Sept. 22, 2009.

That day the two officers saw a vehicle connected to a domestic violence case in which shots had been fired earlier, Keetle said.

At the traffic stop, Gomez got out of his patrol car and was fired upon by the driver.

Garcia, whose patrol car had been behind Gomez, moved his vehicle and fired several shots at the shooter hitting his car, Keetle said.

The shooter fled with Gomez pursuing him but the officer was able to broadcast information that allowed other officers to assist him and Garcia, Keetle said.

The pursuit ended when officers shot at the shooter who later died.

"Officer Gomez acted with valor in that while he was being shot at, he instinctively exited his vehicle and was able to return fire at the suspect," Keetle said.

In the course of the investigation law enforcement authorities discovered one of the bullets the shooter fired hit Gomez's patrol car just missing the officer, Keetle said.

"Officer Gomez was able to recognize the threat and carried himself with bravery and professionalism," Kettle said.

"Corporal Garcia acted with valor while Officer Gomez was being shot at," Keetle said. "He did not retreat, but rather engaged the suspect. He put himself in harm's way by coming to the aid of Officer Gomez and making the effort to ensure the suspect would not continue to be a threat to Pomona citizens or other officers."

Garcia said after the ceremony the recognition was humbling. He said the incident could have had a different ending had the shooter not fired his weapon.

"He didn't have to make the choices he made," Garcia said.

Gomez said the recognition was both flattering and humbling.

"I don't think I did anything special. I did my job," he said.

His training prepared him for such a situation which he realized he could face when he became an officer, Gomez said.

Still "I love my job," he said. "I have the greatest job in the world."

Among those honored:

Officers Joseph Deleo, Jason Conley, Jose Larraga and Jorge Aleman with Life Saving Awards.

Pomona Police Commendation Medals were presented to Sgt. Horace Blehr, Cpl. Rory Tom-Hoon, detectives Andrew Bebon, Mark McCann, and Richard Machado; and Officers Arthur Choi, Shaun Diamond, David Estrada and Ron Ramirez.

The Breakfast Optimist Award was presented to Detectives Danny Kono and Dave Sevesind.

California Highway Patrol 10851 Awards for auto theft recovery were presented to Officers Richard Garcia, Greg Ienni, Jeff Wright, Trevor Stevenson and Daniel Watkins.

Recognition for Outstanding Achievement went to Sgt. Matt Stone, Detectives Danny Kono, Andrew Bebon, Mike Lange, Mark McCann, Richard Shope, Jennifer Turpin, Jerry Uribe, Greg Freeman and Eric Berger; crime scene investigators Adam MacDonald, Sheri Orellana and Tony Nguyen; and Community Service Officer Detria Bolton.

Commission members tonight will address a number of matters, which will include setting a time and date for meetings as well as, possibly, selecting a chairman, he said.

Commission members have up to 12 months to meet to produce a report about the charter. They could suggest that the charter be left unchanged, Gluba said.

Commissioners will receive copies of the existing charter document so they can familiarize themselves with it.

The city's current charter was approved by voters in November 1998, according to a city staff report. A provision in the charter stated that beginning in January 2010, and then every 10 years after that, the council would appoint a commission to propose amendments to the existing charter.

Tonight's meeting will be from 5 to 7 in the administration board room at City Hall, 505 S. Garey Ave