SAPD shines a light on its top officers, employees in 2023

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The Santa Ana Police Department took a moment to reflect on the past year — a uniquely active time for the department — during its annual awards ceremony honoring employees for outstanding work.

In 2023, the department bid farewell to its Chief, processed more than 2,000 employment applications, and continued to innovate all while continuing to provide service to the community, saving lives, and protecting the public.

Officer Bob Guidry receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

About 350 police officers and non-sworn department personnel, plus friends and family, poured into the Margaret Webb Theatre for the 36th annual Employee Recognition and Awards Ceremony to celebrate 53 department employees and volunteers for their work, contributions, and commitment to Santa Ana public safety in 2023.

It was an evening to recognize life-saving — 16 officers earned medals for critical roles played in saving residents from death or potentially deadly harm — as well as often unsung dedication and exemplary work.

Officer Bob Guidry receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Although 53 individuals were recognized by name, Acting Chief Robert Rodriguez said the night was about the collective.

“It’s not just about individual achievements but all of us as a group,” he said. “Everyone is a representative of our group values and ideals.”

“We were in transition but still doing amazing work,” he said.

Maybe most amazing were the accomplishments in life-saving. The department gave an unusually high number of these awards for 2023. Life Saving Medals are among the highest awards officers can receive. In addition to the 16 medals awarded to officers, the department handed out a citizen’s award and a certificate of appreciation.

Officer Anh Tu Phan receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Life savers

Whether delivering critical aid to victims of violence or arson, saving a pedestrian pinned between a car and wall, giving CPR and defibrillation in a medical emergency, or talking a despondent person off a roof, officers assured residents were able to go home to their families.

Santa Ana police officers, plus one citizen and school safety officer, were honored for seven instances where, either collectively or solely, they displayed “exceptional actions in rendering aid during a lifesaving situation.”

Officer Anh Tu Phan receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • A shooting at the Proof Bar & Lounge could have been worse but for the quick actions of Detectives Jonathan McKee and Tanner Bell. The two arrived at the bar to find a female gunshot victim lying on the dance floor of the lounge amid a chaotic scene.
    The two officers put themselves at risk to deliver aid. Working in the dimly lit room, they placed chest seals on two gunshot wounds, preventing a collapsed lung. They also wrapped the victim in a reflective emergency blanket to prevent potential hypothermia from blood loss.
    According to an Orange County Fire Authority captain, “The officer’s quick assessment and placement of the chest seals were lifesaving for the victim.”

Officer Breann Gonzalez receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • In September, Officers Travis Booth and Simon Poti were on patrol when they responded to a Code 3 emergency regarding a gang shooting and a victim in grave condition from multiple wounds. Gang members surrounding the victim were hostile toward the officers and prevented them from rendering aid.
    Corporal Ryan Johnson and Officers Carlos Correa and Emilio Mondragon were able to create space to give aid. Booth and Correa applied chest seals to the entrance and exit wounds on the victim’s chest and back and tourniquets were placed on each arm.
    According to the commendation, “Their decisiveness exemplified their training, experience, and leadership during this volatile incident, and their actions undoubtedly saved the victim’s life.”

Officer Breann Gonzalez receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • When a disgruntled guest threatened to burn down a La Quinta Hotel, eventually setting off the smoke alarm in his room, Officers Breann Gonzalez, Isaac Cisneros, Darren Bland, and Jose Uriarte leapt into action.
    After unsuccessful efforts to talk to the man, the officers heard the guest coughing, vomiting, and saying he could not breathe or move. Officers breached a glass window, removed a barricade, and dealt with heavy smoke. Gonzalez and Uriarte treated the man while Cisneros and Bland checked for other victims and found none. The officers were able to remove the man from the room. The man was later transferred to a hospital ICU burn unit.
    In honoring the officers, the recognition read, “Officers Gonzalez, Cisneros, Bland, and Uriarte showed complete disregard for their well-being by breaching and making entry into a room filled with smoke, fire, and barricades to rescue a person in need.”

Officer Manuel Pardo receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • Officers Manuel Pardo and Anh Tu Phan were on patrol in March when they were called to a Stater Bros. parking lot where they discovered a motorist had inadvertently rammed into a pedestrian, pinning the victim between the car and a wall. The pedestrian had trauma to his lower extremities and blood pouring from his left leg.
    Pardo quickly applied a tourniquet to the victim’s leg to control the bleeding, while Phan engaged the victim to prevent him from going into shock.
    The man had a traumatic compound fracture, with a bone protruding from the skin that required the immediate attention provided by Pardo and Phan, who displayed what was described as “professionalism and application of a skill set above normal medical aid.”

Officer Manuel Pardo receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • There are instances when the emergency comes to you, which happened in December. After a man suffered severe stab wounds during a large street fight, he was brought to the Santa Ana Police Station when a relative couldn’t get him to the Emergency Room.
    Officers Keith Briley and Jacob Hughes arrived to find the victim lying on his back, his shirt saturated with blood. After Briley applied a seal to a chest wound, Hughes discovered massive hemorrhaging from the victim’s left armpit and a tourniquet was applied, likely saving the victim from bleeding out.

Officer Manuel Pardo receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • Before school began on a November morning, Century High School teacher Lance Neal collapsed on campus. Nathan Goodrich, a fellow teacher who called 911, said Neal was not breathing and was turning blue. Receiving dispatch instructions, Goodrich began CPR with help from Santa Ana School Police Officer Luis Macias, who arrived quickly.
    When officers Bradly Sharp, Samuel Esparza, and Corporal John Pace arrived, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) device was requested and administered to restore the heart rhythm. Esparza took over chest compressions and Macias continued rescue breaths for seven minutes until the Orange County Fire Authority arrived.
    Neal was rushed to emergency surgery. Early CPR and AED administration were deemed critical in saving the victim. Goodrich received a Citizen Award and Macias a Certificate of Recognition for the roles they played.

Officer Isaac Cisneros receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

  • Sometimes, it’s all about empathy. That was the case in February when Officer Bob Guidry came on the scene of a depressed man sitting on the ledge of the fourth-floor of the parking structure at the Civic Center claiming he wanted “to end it.”
    Although several police were on scene, Guidry was able to connect with the man, who, according to reports, said he had “lost everything, his family hated him, and he was done with his life.” When the man appeared ready to take what likely would have been a fatal leap, Guidry appealed to the man’s compassion, asking him why he wanted to traumatize onlookers.
    That gave the man pause. Eventually, Guidrey’s compassion and sincerity convinced the man to return from the ledge. Guidry told the man he would get him help and wouldn’t leave him. Later, police found autobiographical information written on his arms and learned he had been contemplating suicide for weeks.

Officer Isaac Cisneros receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Department-wide Commendations: burning car incident

A dramatic incident occurred in August when Corporal Connor Ahearn and Officers Eric Sanchez, Rafael Barajas, Joshua Smith, Isaac Cisneros, Breann Gonzalez, and Michael Coleman were met with the chaotic scene of a car crash at Bristol Street and St. Andrew Place.

A car had collided into a light pole and power lines were down and sparking, which had ignited a car fire. Despite the hazards, the officers jumped in. While trying to pull the driver through the front window because the door was jammed, the man resisted, saying he wanted to die. With the fire encroaching, officers retrieved and deployed fire extinguishers and the man was pulled to safety and transported to a hospital for treatment. For their teamwork, the seven officers were given Department-wide Commendations.

Officer Darren Bland receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Chief’s Award: Dominick Padilla

Sgt. Dominick Padilla is the Santa Ana Police Department’s resident Marathon Man. In addition to spearheading the department’s Baker to Vegas team, which annually competes in a 120-mile relay race across the desert, he is one of the most active and engaged members in the agency.

As a supervisor of the Gang Unit, Padilla was in charge of 25 high-risk warrant service operations, leading to the seizure of 35 firearms. In May he moved to the Property Crimes Unit and led 15 warrant services, including involvement in a countywide effort to target fraudulent withdrawals of benefits for low-income families.

He is also a 20-year member of the SWAT Team and Team Leader, Lead Instructor, and Coordinator for the Orange County Active Shooter Response training, an Auxiliary Firearms Instructor program for the past 13 years, and a Use of Force Instructor.

Officer Darren Bland receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Uniformed Officer of the Year: Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith is the department’s Swiss Army Knife – he does it all. Event emcee and newscaster Phillip Palmer, describing the attributes of a top officer said, “Joshua Smith is the epitome of a good police officer.’

Palmer cited attributes such as an ability to handle any kind of call for service, sharing a large workload, being proactive in suppressing crime, investigating a broad spectrum of crimes, thinking quickly, being sound in rapidly evolving critical incidents, and properly representing the Santa Ana Police Department to the community. He is also good with kids and empathetic, while being assertive and fearless when confronting violent criminals.

Officer Jose Uriarte receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Department-wide Commendations

“Outstanding and exceptional work beyond the call of duty and which directly enhances the image and operation of the police department,” earned these Department-wide Commendations.

They are:

  • Gabriela Jilek, Police Communications Supervisor;
  • Magdelano Rodriguez, Correctional Supervisor;
  • Juan Cante, Senior Correctional Officer;
  • Maritza Escobedo, Correctional Officer;
  • Josue Alvarez, Correctional Officer;
  • Ricardo Zavala, Correctional Officer;
  • Officer Simon Poti;
  • Officer Emilio Mondragon;
  • and Officer Keith Briley.

Officer Jose Uriarte receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Employees of the Year

Acting Chief Rodriguez recognized employees from different units, departments, and ranks within the department as Employees of the Year. This category was introduced in 1989 at the 2nd annual Employee Recognition and Awards Ceremony to one employee, but has grown ever since to recognize achievement across the department.

SAPD Officers Isaac Cisneros, left, Breann Gonzalez, Darren Bland and Jose Uriarte receive the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

They are:

  • Susan Gorospe, Manager of the Year;
  • Lourdes Ferrer, Senior Human Resources Analyst, Professional Staff Supervisor of the Year;
  • David Te, Information Technology Support Technician II, Professional Staff of the Year;
  • Lauren Vaughn, Police Services Dispatcher of the Year;
  • Maureen Peralta, Lead Records Specialist, Record Specialist of the Year;
  • John Salgado, Explorer Sergeant, Explorer of the Year;
  • Caroline Contreras, Correctional Supervisor of the Year;
  • Claudia Smith, Senior Correctional Officer of the Year;
  • Clinton Paulino, Correctional Officer of the Year;
  • Autumn Plimmer, Correctional Records Specialist of the Year;
  • Jerry Hill, Chaplain of the Year;
  • Samantha Prudencio, Police Cadet of the Year;
  • Brandon Sontag, Sergeant of the Year;
  • Cassandra Hawkins, Corporal of the Year;
  • Michael Gibbons, Detective of the Year;
  • Officer Jaime Lopez, Traffic Officer of the Year;
  • and Cpl. Jonathon Perez, Field Training Officer of the Year.

Det. Jonathan McKee receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Corp. Ryan Johnson receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Corp. Ryan Johnson receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Detectives Tanner Bell, left, and Jonathan McKee receive the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Det. Tanner Bell receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Det. Tanner Bell receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Det. Jonathan McKee receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Travis Booth receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Keith Briley receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Keith Briley receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Jacob Hughes receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Jacob Hughes receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Receiving the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony are, from left, Corp. Ryan Johnson, Officer Travis Booth and Officer Carlos Correa. Receiving a Department Wide Commendation is Officer Simon Poti, right.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Simon Poti receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Carlos Correa receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Carlos Correa receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Travis Booth receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officers Jacob Hughes, left, and Keith Briley receive the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

SAPD Manager Susan Gorospe receives the Manager of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

SAPD Manager Susan Gorospe receives the Manager of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Receiving the Lifesaving Medal are officers, from left, Carlos Correa and Bradley Sharp. Next to them are Century High School Teacher Nathan Goodrich receiving the SAPD Citizen Award and Santa Ana PD School Police Officer Luis Macias receiving the Certificate of Appreciation during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Santa Ana PD School Police Officer Luis Macias Certificate of Appreciation Award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Century High School Teacher Nathan Goodrich receives the SAPD Citizen Award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Bradley Sharp receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Bradley Sharp receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Carlos Correa receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Corp. John Pace receives the Lifesaving Medal during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Lauren Vaughn receives the Dispatcher of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Clinton Paulino receives the Correctional Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Claudia Smith receives the Sr. Correctional Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Claudia Smith receives the Sr. Correctional Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Claudia Smith receives the Sr. Correctional Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Caroline Contreras receives the Correctional Supervisor of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Caroline Contreras receives the Correctional Supervisor of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Caroline Contreras receives the Correctional Supervisor of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

John Salgado receives the Explorer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

John Salgado receives the Explorer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Clinton Paulino receives the Correctional Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Det. Michael Gibbons receives the Detective of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Cpl. Cassandra Hawkins receives the Corporal of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Cpl. Cassandra Hawkins receives the Corporal of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Sgt. Brandon Sontag receives the Sergeant of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Sgt. Brandon Sontag receives the Sergeant of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Samantha Prudencio receives the Cadet of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Samantha Prudencio receives the Cadet of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Police Chaplain Jerry Hill receives the Chaplain of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Police Chaplain Jerry Hill receives the Chaplain of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Det. Michael Gibbons receives the Detective of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Eric Sanchez receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Gabriela Jilek receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Sgt. Dominick Padilla receives the Chief’s Award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Joshua Smith receives the Uniformed Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Joshua Smith receives the Uniformed Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Cpl. Jonathon Perez receives the Filed Training Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Cpl. Jonathon Perez receives the Filed Training Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Motor Officer Jaime Lopez receives the Traffic Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Motor Officer Jaime Lopez receives the Traffic Officer of the Year award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Joshua Smith receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Correctional Officer Josue Alvarez receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Correctional Officer Ricardo Zavala receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Senior Correctional Supervisor Maritza Escobedo receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Senior Correctional Supervisor Juan Cante receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Correctional Supervisor Magdaleno Rodriguez receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

SAPD Officers receiving the Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony are, from left, Michael Coleman, Eric Sanchez, Joshua Smith, Isaac Cisneros and Breann Gonzalez.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Michael Coleman receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Breann Gonzalez receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Officer Isaac Cisneros receives a Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Receiving the Department Wide Commendation award during SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony are, from left, Correctional Officer Josue Alvarez, Correctional Officer Ricardo Zavala, Senior Correctional Supervisor Maritza Escobedo, Senior Correctional Supervisor Juan Cante and Correctional Supervisor Magdaleno Rodriguez.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Santa Ana Police Command Staff and Emcee attending the 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony from left, Lt. Kenneth Willard, Deputy Chief Enrique Esparza, Emcee Phillip Palmer, Acting Chief Robert Rodriguez and Deputy Chief Jose Gonzalez.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Senior Police Chaplain Robert Barnett gives the invocation at the start of SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

SAPD Cpl. Judith Valdez, left, sings the National Anthem at the start of SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge

Socorro Vargas and Diana Vargas leads the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of SAPD’s 2023 Employee Recognition & Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge