Behind the Badge
He was part of the first four-man team to enter the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino minutes after the carnage of Dec. 2, 2015.
Office Shaun Sandoval has been called a hero for his actions that day, when two terrorists killed 14 and seriously injured 22 in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history.
Sandoval doesn’t see himself as a hero – just a cop doing his job.
And he calls that day the most difficult thing he’s ever experienced.
“I relied on my training and experience and intuition,” Sandoval told a room full of Garden Grove PD explorers and their families, GGPD officers and others at the agency’s Annual Police Explorer Banquet on Tuesday, April 19.
Officer Lino Santana (second from left) is presented with the Advisor of the Year award as he stands on stage with those explorers involved with the Chandler Tactical Competition in Arizona.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sandoval was born and raised in Garden Grove and cut his teeth in law enforcement as an explorer and cadet for the GGPD. He has been an officer for the San Bernardino PD since 2002.
“All that training and experience began right here in this explorer program,” Sandoval said at the banquet, held at the Community Meeting Center.
Along with the awards, Sandoval’s speech was a highlight of the evening. Attendees gave the celebrated San Bernardino cop a standing ovation,
Sandoval, in brief remarks, gave the explorers some advice.
“Hold yourself to high standards,” he said. “Maintain your integrity. Set your goals and work toward them. Work hard at school and get your education. Respect your parents, respect others and treat everyone the way you want to be treated.”
Jason Brito (center left) and Luis Quiroz receive the Top Hours award presented to them by Capt. Kevin Boddy, left, and Capt. Travis Whitman at the Garden Grove Police Explorer Awards Banquet. GGPD’s Kari Flood in behind them. Quiroz also received the Most Improved award.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
And he said: “Heroic events don’t define you as much as the preparation for those events do. Take (your job as an explorer) seriously.”
GGPD Officer Jason Perkins, who hosted the banquet, thanked the explorers’ parents for all their work.
“We know that you are the unsung heroes that make your children available and get them to and from the station at all hours of the day of the night for our events,” Perkins said. “We thank you for allowing us to use your children to help us provide police services to our community.”
Perkins introduced the GGPD explorers team, including senior explorer advisor Sgt. Bill Allison, Sgt. Richard Burillo, Det. John Casaccia, Master Officer Chuck Starnes, Master Officer Lino Santana, Officer Brian Hatfield, Officer Aldo Guereca, Officer Michael El Hami and Community Service Officer Kari Flood.
Here are the GGPD explorers are advisors recognized for their accomplishments in 2015:
Capt. Travis Whitman (right) applauds as Jason Brito left, and Luis Quiroz receive the Top Hours award. Quiroz also received the Most Improved award.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Top Hours
Explorer Jason Brito and Explorer Luis Quiroz
Most Improved
Explorer Luis Quiroz
Most Inspirational
Sgt. Daniel Alvarez
Supervisor of the Year
Sgt. Daniel Alvarez
Garden Grove PD Explorer Daniel Alvarez, accepts the Supervisor of the Year award from Capt. Kevin Boddy (left) and Capt. Travis Whitman .
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Explorer of the Year
Sgt. Daniel Alvarez
Advisor of the Year
Master Officer Lino Santana
Chandler Competition Trophies
First Place — Officer Down
Fourth Place — Waterborne Operations
Fourth Place — Vehicle Assault
Fifth Place — Five-man armored tank pull
Third Place – Male 3-mile Run (Explorer Sergio Jimenez).
Special Awards
Master Officer Adam Coughran and Communications Supervisor Brandy Park were recognized for being advisors for several years. They recently resigned their positions in the program.
For more about the Garden Grove PD Explorer Program, check out this video:
Behind the Badge OC photographer Steven Georges contributed to this story.
Officer Jason Perkins welcomes guest to the GGPD’s Annual Police Explorer Awards banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD Explorer Daniel Alvarez accepts the Most Inspirational award from Capt. Kevin Boddy (left) and Capt. Travis Whitman.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer Adam Coughran (center) receives an appreciation award for his “service to Explorer Post 1020 and the youth of the community” from Capt. Kevin Boddy (left) and Capt. Travis Whitman.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Senior Explorer Advisor Sgt. Bill Allison gives the closing remarks at the banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer Lino Santana (fourth from left) is presented with the Advisor of the Year award as he stands on stage with those explorers involved with the Chandler Tactical Competition in Arizona.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
