The third annual Corpus Christi Police Department Awards Banquet was held Thursday January 26^th, on board the USS Lexington. The sold out event, with nearly 500 in attendance, was a tremendous success.  Once again the Police Foundation (Citizens in Support of the Corpus Christi Police Department) sponsored the event, which is a means of celebrating the outstanding contributions made by the men and women of the Police Department.  Attendees were treated to a delicious pork rib dinner prepared by the Mustangs barbecue team, and had the opportunity once more  to listen to former Police Chief Troy Riggs.  Riggs expressed his pride in having worn the uniform of the CCPD, and touted the accomplishments made by the officers and civilians during his short time as Police Chief.   Police Foundation President Ed Hicks presented Chief Riggs with an appreciation award for his outstanding contributions to the Police Department during his two year tenure.  Chief Riggs had first proposed the idea of an Annual Awards Banquet shortly after becoming Chief of Police in 2009.  In 2010 Chief Riggs established the Police Foundation, a private non-profit organization that raises funds to support the men and women of the Police Department.  To date, the foundation has raised over $250,000 and sponsored numerous events including the Awards Banquet, Police Executive Training, Marriage Enrichment, the Theft Prevention Business Summit, and the Police Department Wellness program.

Interim Police Chief Richard Badaracco presented the 2011 Officer of the Year Award to Senior Officer Ray Tamez. CCPD Parking Control Supervisor Marc Denson was honored as the 2011 CCPD Civilian Employee of the Year, and the 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Dan Roberts, for his outstanding contributions to the CCPD Reserve Officer Program;

Life Saving Ribbons and Certificate of Merit Awards were presented to the following officers who distinguished themselves during 2011:

LIFE SAVING AWARDS

Officer Leslie Bond-Strychar

On March 13, 2011 at about 8:00 PM, Officer Leslie Bond-Strychar responded to an overdose call at an apartment complex in the 5700 block of Curtis Clark.  Upon arriving, Officer Bond-Strychar found a 50 year old woman lying on the floor, unconscious and not breathing.  The woman’s daughter told Officer Bond-Strychar that her mother had no pulse and wasn’t breathing. Bond-Strychar immediately began CPR and as a result, restored the woman’s vital signs.  Corpus Christi Fire Department Medics arrived quickly and transported the victim to a nearby hospital, where she recovered fully.  The woman’s daughter, who had unsuccessfully attempted CPR prior to Bond-Strychar’s arrival, stated that Bond-Strychar “most definitely” saved her mother’s life.  For her quick and decisive action directly leading to the saving of a life, Officer Leslie Bond-Strychar was awarded the Life Saving Ribbon.

Senior Officer Luis Rodriguez

On March 28, 2011, at about 6:00 PM, Senior Officer Luis Rodriguez and his partner responded to a residence in the 4900 block of Kosarek for a report of a sick child.  Upon arrival Senior Officer Rodriguez noticed a group of men and women gathered in the front yard of the residence.  The group of adults was hysterical and screaming, standing around a 14 month-old child that was lying in the grass.  Senior Officer Rodriguez ran to the child and picked him up.  Rodriguez quickly evaluated the child’s condition and found him unresponsive, not breathing and ashen in color.  Senior Officer Rodriguez took immediate action and began infant CPR, utilizing his fingers to administer chest compressions.  For several minutes Rodriguez performed CPR until slowly the infant began to gasp for breath and eventually began to breathe on his own.  Corpus Christi Fire Department Medics arrived on scene and transported the child to Driscoll Children’s Hospital, where he made a full recovery.  If not for Senior Officer Rodriguez’s immediate response and decisive actions, this incident could have ended with tragic consequences.  There can be no greater achievement in police work than saving the life of a child. Therefore, for his actions directly leading to the saving of a life, Senior Officer Luis Rodriguez was awarded the Life Saving Ribbon.

Officers Paul Janko and Joshua Clark

Shortly after 1:00 AM on August 5, 2011, a panicked woman called dispatch from a motel room in the 10,600 block of South Padre Island Drive to report that her 46 year-old husband was unconscious and not breathing.  Officers Paul Janko and Joshua Clark were the first to arrive and discovered the man, who had a history of heart problems, on his bed unconscious, without a pulse and not breathing.  Both officers immediately initiated CPR on the man, and continued for approximately three minutes until a faint pulse was detected.  Corpus Christi Fire Department personnel then arrived on scene and took over the resuscitation efforts, before rushing the man off to a local hospital for treatment.  The Corpus Christi Fire Department personnel who responded to this call stated that the CPR administered by Officers Janko and Clark directly led to the resuscitation of the victim, enabling the man to survive the trip to the hospital for advanced medical care.   For their outstanding effort and dedication to preserving a human life, Officers Janko and Clark were awarded the Life Saving Ribbon.

Officer Robert Walker

At approximately 6:00 PM on October 2, 2011, Officer Robert Walker responded to an apartment in the 600 block of Gordon Street for an overdose.  When he entered the apartment, Officer Walker discovered a 57 year-old man lying face up on the bathroom floor, unconscious and not breathing.  The man exhibited no signs of life and was beginning to turn a pale shade of blue.  Officer Walker initiated CPR and instructed the victim’s roommate to assist by performing rescue breathing.  After several cycles of CPR, Officer Walker noticed that their efforts were not producing the desired results and that the victim’s abdomen was beginning to fill with air.  Walker directed the roommate to re-position the victim’s head, pushed on the victim’s abdomen to release the trapped air, and then resumed CPR.  Officer Walker continued CPR for several minutes until Corpus Christi Fire Department Medics arrived on scene.  As a result of Walker’s efforts, the victim regained a pulse and began breathing as the Medics rushed him to a nearby hospital where he recovered fully.  For his actions directly leading to the saving of a life, Officer Robert Walker was awarded the Life Saving Ribbon.

Senior Officer Jose Anthony Gonzales-LIfe Saving Ribbon

Officer Ernesto Coronado-Life Saving Ribbon

 

CERTIFICATES OF MERIT

Corpus Christi Police Department Search and Recovery Dive Team

On December 29, 2010 members of the Corpus Christi Police Department Dive Team responded to a “call-out” at LaBonte Park to assist CID burglary detectives with their investigation into the theft of several pounds of explosives from the CCPD ordinance locker.  Detectives had received a tip that the suspects who committed the burglary had dumped the stolen explosives into the murky waters of the Nueces River at LaBonte Park.   The Dive Team commenced search operations at approximately 4:00 PM and continued until January 5, 2011 when the last piece of evidence was recovered.  Divers spent five full days out of the next eight searching the muddy river bottom for the stolen explosives, totaling fifteen hours of “bottom time” or time spent under water.   Divers worked through extreme environmental conditions, including frigid water temperatures, while braving the wind, cold and rain of a South Texas winter.  During the operation, the Nueces River had zero visibility, which forced the divers to search every inch by touch alone; visibility was so poor that divers had to surface simply to read their pressure and depth gauges. The bottom of the river was covered with entanglement hazards such as large pieces of concrete with exposed re-bar, trees, broken bottles, fishing line, hooks and other discarded trash, debris and sharp objects.  The river is home to potentially dangerous water dwelling reptiles, as well as the rotting carcasses of dead animals that create a high risk of harmful bacteria and infection.  Despite working in these extremely difficult and hazardous conditions, the Dive Team accomplished its mission by recovering every last piece of evidence and, most importantly, returning home without injury to any team member.  For their excellence in police work and outstanding performance under very unusual, complicated, and dangerous conditions, the Corpus Christi Police Department Dive Team was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Senior Officer Richard Olden

On February 27, 2011 at about 10:48 AM, Senior Officer Richard Olden responded along with other officers to Spohn Shoreline Hospital for a disturbance with a weapon.  Upon arriving, officers encountered a 59 year-old male patient holding a knife to his own throat.  When officers approached, the man threatened to slit his own throat if they didn’t back away. To further complicate matters, the man suffered from several serious medical ailments, including a pacemaker implant, precluding Olden from deploying pepper spray or utilizing his Taser to disarm the patient.  Senior Officer Olden remained calm and steadily built rapport with the distraught man, based at least partially upon their shared prior US Army service and Olden’s knowledge of the Veteran’s Administration Hospital System.   After several minutes of tense conversation, Officer Olden finally persuaded the troubled man to drop the knife.  Once the victim was safely in police custody, Senior Officer Olden ensured the man received the emergency psychological treatment he so desperately needed.  Senior Officer Olden’s professionalism and calm demeanor brought forth a successful conclusion to a potentially tragic situation. For his excellence in police work, and outstanding performance under very unusual and complicated conditions, Senior Officer Richard Olden was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

 Officer John Ghezzi

Just past midnight on February 12, 2011, Officer John Ghezzi was dispatched to the Harbor Bridge to investigate a report of a man threatening to commit suicide.  Upon arriving, Officer Ghezzi spotted a 47 year-old man perched precariously on a steel support beam outside the walkway safety railing. This distraught individual was threatening to kill himself by jumping from the bridge into the water over a hundred feet below.  Officer Ghezzi assumed a non-threatening stance in a safe location nearby and began to communicate calmly and reassuringly with the suicidal man.  Officer Ghezzi spoke to him for more than 20 minutes and ultimately convinced the man to move back to a secure location where officers safely took him into protective custody.  Officer Ghezzi’s composed presence and sincere concern for the life of another led to the safe and successful conclusion of this critical situation.   For his excellence in police work and outstanding performance under unusual and complicated conditions, Officer John Ghezzi was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Lt. Isaac Valencia

In March of 2011, Lt.Valenciawas tasked with implementing a regional Child Abduction Response Team (CART). It is clear he understood the gravity of this assignment and put forth great effort to achieve success.  Because of his hard work and passion for this endeavor, the Corpus Christi Police Department now has a Child Abduction Response Team which includes the Coastal Bend Amber Alert Program and Corpus Christi Registered Sex Offender Unit; the CART covers a twelve county area and includes multiple local, state and federal law enforcement and social service agencies.  Lt. Valencia carried out this important assignment in addition to his demanding duties as a Corpus Christi Homicide Lieutenant.  As a testament to his outstanding performance and excellence in police work, Lt. Valencia was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Senior Officer Mel Goce

On October 8, 2011 at approximately 12:51 PM, Senior Officer Mel Goce was on patrol in the 400 block of Culberson Street, when he spotted smoke coming from a nearby residence.  Senior Officer Goce immediately notified dispatch and requested the fire department; Goce then jumped from his patrol car and rushed to the home, where he warned the residents that their house was on fire.  Goce then coordinated the evacuation of the residents, ensuring that all inhabitants exited the home safely.  Senior Officer Goce’s alert patrol tactics and swift response prevented a homeowner’s worst nightmare from becoming an utter tragedy.  For his excellence in police work, and outstanding performance under unusual and complicated conditions, Senior Officer Mel Goce was awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Senior Officers Dennis Hendirix and Alberto Villarreal

In the early evening hours of June 1^st, 2011 Senior Officer Dennis Hendrix was dispatched to a home in the 1000 Linda Vista to investigate a disturbance involving an emotionally unstable 40 year-old man.  Neighbors were concerned about the man’s behavior; they had heard him shouting that his deceased mother was being held hostage and were worried about his potential for violence.  Upon  arriving at the residence, Senior Officer Hendrix, who was familiar with the troubled man, approached him cautiously and began speaking to him in a calm tone of voice. The man seemed more agitated than usual and appeared to be hallucinating; while Hendrix was attempting to calm him, the man became aggressive and suddenly placed an improvised explosive device inside his microwave oven and activated the timer.  At the same time, the man placed an apparent “Molotov Cocktail” on the kitchen counter, grabbed a lighter, and turned on all the burners of his gas stove.  Hendrix backed away slowly while he continued to speak calmly to the distressed man. Despite the extreme danger, Hendrix directed responding officers away from the area to protect them, while continuously engaging the man in conversation.  Minutes later, Senior Officer Alberto Villarreal arrived to assist. Officer Villarreal immediately recognized the man from previous contacts.  Together, Senior Officers Hendrix and Villarreal established rapport with the emotionally disturbed individual; after many tense moments, the officers gained the man’s trust, and convinced him to turn off the stove and microwave and walk outside where he surrendered peacefully. Without injury, officers placed the man into custody, preventing a potential major catastrophe.  Bomb technicians later stated that the explosion from the IAD would have destroyed the entire house if it had detonated.   For their excellence in police work, and outstanding performance under unusual, complicated and extremely dangerous conditions, Senior Officers Dennis Hendrix and Alberto Villarreal were awarded the Certificate of Merit.

Chief’s Appreciation Awards were presented to Nueces County Sheriff Jim Kaelin, South Texas School of Christian Studies President Tony Celleli, and Frame Up owner James Benning (posthusmously).

Commander A. H. Frese and her team of volunteers once again organized an outstanding tribute to the men and women of our Police Department.  A special thanks goes to the Corpus Christi Police Department Explorer Post 133, the Corpus Christi Mustangs Barbecue Team, and the staff of the USS Lexington Museum for all their hard work to make this event a success.