This Veterans Day, Tustin PD honors 22 employees who served in armed forces

They traded one uniform for another — first pledging service to their country, then to their communities.

The calling to serve is difficult to quiet for some.

The Tustin Police Department today honors its 22 employees, from sworn officers, to CSI specialists, to volunteers, who have served in the military.

“We are very proud of the fact that we have 22 veterans here, working for the Tustin PD, who served their country proudly and now they serve the community proudly,” said Police Chief Charlie Celano.

Tustin PD currently has 187 members, which includes 142 full-time, 21 part-time and 20 volunteer positions. Veterans make up about 12 percent of the department’s entire staff, but they account for 22 percent of its sworn employees.

Law enforcement is often a natural transition for those who served in the military — a sense of duty, loyalty and discipline already well-forged in the character of many veterans.

“Out of the military ranks, we pull for our police ranks,” said Sgt. Del Pickney. “They already have a good sense for decision making and have been in high-pressure situations. They have training from the ground up. Veterans make excellent officers.”

VETERANS BY BRANCH: 

Meet Tustin PD’s veterans:

(Tustin PD Photos by Steven Georges)

 

Manny Arzate, Sergeant

Branch of Service:  Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-5

Years Served: 1997 – 2002

Military occupation specialty:  Motor Transport

Interesting Fact:  Assigned to Navy as a Humvee ambulance driver

Years with TPD:  14

Assignments with TPD:  Patrol, gang detective, field training officer and Special Enforcement Detail.

 

 

James Brabeck, Sergeant

Branch of Service:  Navy Reserve

Rank at time of Discharge:  Chief Petty Officer (E-7)

Years Served: 2001 – 2011

Military occupation specialty:  Gunners Mate

Operations:  Iraqi Freedom 2005-2006

Interesting Fact:

Years of service with Tustin PD:  19

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Patrol, special investigations, field training officer, SWAT operator, and gang unit supervisor

Michael Carter, Officer 

Branch of Service:  Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-5

Years Served: 2004 – 2013

Military occupation specialty:  Machine Gunner

Operations:  Operation Iraqi Freedom / Operation New Dawn

Interesting Fact:  Enlisted at the age of 17 and graduated boot camp as the youngest recruit and as the platoon honor man. Combat meritoriously promoted to NCO during beginning of second deployment. Received black belt in the Marine Corps martial arts program

Years of service with TPD:  3

Assignments with TPD:  Patrol, SWAT, firearms instructor, First Aid/CPR staff, and community outreach/Team Kids

 

Ryan Coe, Sergeant 

Branch of Service:  Air Force

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-4

Years Served: 2000 – 2004

Military occupation specialty:  Military Police / Security Forces

Operations:  Operation Enduring Freedom

Interesting Fact:  In addition to being a military police officer, I also played softball on the All Air Force Softball Team and participated in the Armed Forces Olympic Baseball Team.

Years with Tustin PD: 10

Assignments:  Patrol, general investigations, motors

 

Joe Cossack, Special Enforcement Officer 

Branch of Service: Air Force

Rank at Discharge: E-4

Years Served: 2007 – 2011

Military occupation specialty: 3P031 Security Forces

Operations: Operation Enduring Freedom

Interesting Fact: Stationed at F E Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming for 4 years, which is the USAF’s only base without a flight line.

Years of Service with TPD: 3

Assignments with TPD: Special enforcement detail, patrol and special response team

 

 

Dana Harper, Master Reserve Officer 

Branch of Service:  Army and California Army National Guard

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-5

Years Served: 1983-1989

Military occupation specialty:  Military Police Battlefield Circulation and Control

Operations:  Peace time service

Interesting Fact:  Our “steel pot” helmets doubled as a warm water wash basin.

Years of service with Tustin PD:  31

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Patrol, general Investigations, DARE and professional standards. 

Steve Giddings, Police Services Officer 

Branch of Service:  Army

Rank at time of Discharge:  SGT (E-5)

Years Served: 1989-1995

Military occupation specialty:  Aerial Intelligence Specialist/Supervisor, Ground Station Imagery Supervisor.

Operations:  Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm

Interesting Fact:  In 1994, I was the Senior Instructor for the final class of MOS 96H Aerial Intelligence Specialists for the OV-1 Mohawk “Last of the Mohicans.”  In the same year, I worked briefly with the Army/Air Force combined Unmanned Aerial Vehicle systems before becoming one of the first qualified instructors for the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) systems.

Years of service with Tustin PD:  13

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Desk officer, CSI, traffic

Andrew Gleason, Special Enforcement Officer  

Branch of Service:  Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  Sergeant

Years Served: 2005-2011

Military occupation specialty:  0313/Light Armored Vehicle Crewman

Operations:  Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan & Africa)

Interesting Fact:  The photo of me was taken in an opium field while on foot patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A large portion of the world’s heroin comes from these fields.

Years of service with TPD:  5

Assignments with TPD:  Patrol and Special Enforcement Detail

Diego Gomez, Gang Detective 

Branch of Service:  Navy, Strike Fighter Squadron VF-41

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-3

Years Served: 1996 – 2004

Military occupation specialty:  Aviation Structural Mechanic

Operations:  Operation Deliberate Guard, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Allied Force

Interesting Fact:  Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) also known as the “Black Aces.” VF-41 adopted the slogan “First To Fight, First To Strike” in recognition of being the first F-14 squadron to score air-to-air kills and drop bombs in combat. VF-41 currently flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Years with Tustin PD: 10

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Patrol, Special Enforcement Detail Team and Gang Unit

Gus Gonzalez, Officer 

Military Branch: Army

Years of Service: 8

Military occupation specialty:  45 Bravo/ weapons specialist

MOS in Iraq:  50 cal. Gunner on a Recovery Team.

Picture taken at Forward Operation Base (FOB) Q-West after a recovery mission.

Interesting Fact: Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) also known as the “Black Aces.” VF-41 adopted the slogan “First To Fight, First To Strike” in recognition of being the first F-14 squadron to score air-to-air kills and drop bombs in combat. VF-41 currently flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet.

Years with Tustin PD: 10

Assignments with Tustin PD: Patrol,  Special Enforcement Detail Team and Gang Unit

Eric Haug, Detective 

Branch of Service: Army

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-5 / Sgt.

Years Served: 1993-1999

Military occupation specialty:  Infantry / 11M20

Operations:  Operation Provide Promise

Interesting Fact:  None

Years of service with TPD:  11

Assignments with TPD:  Patrol and general investigations

Don Houle, Officer 

Branch of Service:  Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-5

Years Served: 1996-2001

Military occupation specialty:  CH53-E Hydraulics Mechanic/Crew Chief

Operations:  Peace time

Interesting Fact:  I grew up on the East Coast, and had never traveled to California before, but while in the Marine Corps, I had the opportunity to be stationed at MCAS Tustin until the base closure.

Years with Tustin PD: 10

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Patrol, traffic and field Training

Ray Leger, Volunteer 

Branch of Service:  Navy

Rank at Discharge:  E-6

Years Served: 1965-1971

Military occupation specialty:  Communications Electrician / Submarine Service

Operations:  Vietnam Era Nuclear Deterrent Force

Interesting Fact:  Once transited the Atlantic Ocean under water

Years with Tustin PD:  14 in Police Volunteer Unit

Assignments:  Records, traffic, community policing, special events

Tommy Lomeli, Detective 

Branch: Marine Corps

Rank: Sergeant/E-5

Years: 1995-2002

Military occupation specialty: Supply

Operations: Peace time

Interesting Fact: Held a secondary MOS of Marine Combat Instructor of Water Survival and taught Marines all levels of basic to advanced combat water instruction and simulated helicopter water crash escape course.

Years with Tustin PD: 7 (13 total years in law enforcement)

Assignments at TPD: Patrol and general investigations, (K-9, SWAT, field training officer at a previous agency).

Jason Muro, Officer 

Branch: Marine Corps

Rank: E-5 Sgt

Dates of Service: 1998-2006

Occupation: Legal Administration, demobilization personnel and Inspector-Instructor Staff.

Interesting Fact: Assisted with the demobilization of reservists during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was deployed on ship for a six-month cruise. While I served in this capacity, I conducted humanitarian aide and bi-lateral training with host countries such as Columbia, Peru, Panama, Brazil, Chile, Argentina and South Africa. I also deployed to Denmark for a month to train during annual combat exercises involving the Danes, Germany, and Russians. Later, I deployed to Japan for a month’s time to conduct joint training exercises with the Japanese.

Years with Tustin PD: 10

Assignments with Tustin PD: Patrol, special enforcement detail, SWAT and Field Training Officer.

Del Pickney, Sergeant 

Branch of Service:  Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-4

Years Served: 1985-1988

Military occupation specialty:  Air traffic controller

Operations: Okinawa/Peace Time

Interesting Fact:  At 18 years old, I tried to apply to become a police officer at Westminster PD. Their hiring officer was a former Marine and he told me I was too young to hire. He said if I joined the Marine Corps, he would consider hiring me when I was discharged. I walked into a Marine Corps recruiting station that day.

Years of service with Tustin PD:  28

Assignments withTPD:  Patrol and special Investigations (As a supervisor and detective).

Rich Ruedas, Volunteer 

Branch of service: Marine Corps

Rank of time of Discharge: E-7

Years of service: 1964 – 1992 (26yrs)

Military occupation specialty: Radar Radio and Public Affairs

Operations: Viet Nam Conflict

Interesting fact: l’m lucking to have retired from two jobs

and enjoying the hell out of life!

Years with Tustin PD:  5

Assignments at Tustin PD: Working with the best of the best

Marcella Sanbrano, Police Services Officer 

Branch of Service:  U.S. Army

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-4

Years Served: 1978-1984

Military occupation specialty:  71L – Administration

Operations:  Peace Time

Interesting Fact:  Duty assignments at the Pentagon and NATO Headquarters, Heidelberg, GE

Years with Tustin PD:  22

Assignments : Records, police services officer, domestic violence and elder abuse investigator, background investigator and CSI.

Melissa Trahan, Officer 

Branch of Service: Air Force

Rank at time of Discharge:  E-4

Years Served: 1988-1992

Military occupation specialty:  Medical Technician

Operations: Peace Time & Operation Desert Shield

Interesting Fact:  I was a medic in the military and an X-ray technician before I became a police officer.

Years of service with Tustin PD:  13

Assignments with Tustin PD:  Patrol, school resource officer, field training officer, community impact officer

Val Villarreal Jr., Officer 

Branch of Service:  United States Marine Corps

Rank at time of Discharge:  MSgt / E-8

Years Served: June 1977 – July 2007

Military occupation specialty:  Military Police

Operations:  Desert Storm / Desert Shield , Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom

Interesting Fact:  I was the only reserve Marine in history recalled back to active duty to hold the top Sr. Enlisted military police billet as the Provost Sergeant at Camp Pendleton   The Provost Sergeant position at Camp Pendleton is the No.1  sought after billet for Sr. Staff NCO’S in the military police career field.

Years of service with TPD: 18

Assignments with TPD:  Patrol, bike team, field training officer, department training coordinator and special investigations