Behind the Badge
Michael Bahr was taught at a young age about the joy that comes from volunteering.
So donating his time to the police department in the city where he has lived for 25 years just seemed like the right thing to do.
Bahr’s service to the Tustin Police Department, along with the volunteer efforts of about a dozen other residents, were celebrated during a special dinner held May 28 at the Tustin Ranch Golf Club.
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg, left, and Tustin Police Department volunteer Michael Bahr admire an award Bahr received for the time he has served as a volunteer for the agency.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” said 65-year-old Bahr, who has volunteered 933 hours for the Tustin Police Department. “This is just one form of volunteer work that I do. I also volunteer with the USO at John Wayne Airport. I get it back tenfold. If more people volunteered, they’d realize how much you get back in good feelings giving to others.”
Tustin Police Department volunteers put in a total of 4,713 hours in 2018, serving in virtually every unit in the department.
Volunteers work in Community Relations, Property and Evidence, Traffic, Records, Special Events, and Investigations.
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg speaks to attendees at the departmentÕs volunteer appreciation dinner.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
“We all know that the last few years, police work has changed and not for the better,” Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg told the volunteers. “It’s more challenging now than ever. We can’t do it alone and to have you folks in our corner, helping us do our jobs and helping us reach out to the community – and you guys are doing it for free – that is huge. ‘Thank you’ doesn’t even begin to cover it.”
Marilyn Hogan started volunteering for the Tustin Police Department in 2008 after retiring from her job at the Orange County Register. She’s served more than 10,000 hours since 2011.
Tustin Police Volunteer Richard Ruedas, left, with Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
“I love the interaction with the community and the police department,” Hogan said. “And I’ve worked in so many different departments so I’ve learned so much.”
Volunteer Rich Ruedas, 75, served in the Marines for 26 years and then worked as an assignment editor for NBC News for another 38 years.
Ruedas is retired now but volunteers about 38 hours a week with the Tustin Police Department.
“If you don’t volunteer, you die,” Ruedas said. “I enjoy it.”
Tustin Police Volunteer Howard Lemberg, left, with Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
Volunteers honored at Tustin PD’s volunteer celebration:
Michael Bahr: volunteer since 2011; 932 total hours.
Jean Gayer: volunteer since 2010; 3,601 total hours.
Marilyn Hogan: volunteer since 2008; 10,291 total hours.
Mandy Krisman: volunteer since 2017; 173.5 total hours.
Kathy Leger: volunteer since 2001; 3,229 total hours.
Ray Leger: volunteer since 2001; 7,527 total hours.
Tustin Police Volunteer Karen Scola, left, with Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
Howard Lemberg: volunteer since 2016; 647 total hours.
Tupua Ioane: volunteer since 2015; 881 total hours.
Wendy Meyers: volunteer since 2011; 1,715.5 total hours.
Richard Ruedas: volunteer since 2011; 14,274.5 total hours.
Karen Scola: volunteer since 2017; 303 total hours.
Rick Yurosko: volunteer since 2014; 1,296 total hours.
Tustin Police Volunteer Marilyn Hogan, left, with Tustin Police Chief Stuart Greenberg at an event honoring the department’s volunteers.
Photo by Lou Ponsi/Behind the Badge
