Behind the Badge
Tustin police officers and support staffers who went above and beyond the call of duty in 2018 were recognized earlier this month during an awards banquet at the Marconi Automotive Museum.
The February awards ceremony was dedicated Tustin Police Master Sgt. Del Pickney, who died a year ago after suffering a heart attack while hiking with a friend on the Claremont Hills Wilderness Trail. Pickney left a lasting impression on generations of Tustin police officers as a field training officer, co-founder of the Police Softball World Series that’s raised $50,000 for charity, and was the catalyst for designing and fundraising the construction of a memorial statue honoring fallen officer Wally Karp.
Tustin Police Det. Ryan Newton receives the 2018 Tustin Police Officers Association Officer of the Year award at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin. Newton also received the 2018 Case of the Year award.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The awards banquet was the first for Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg since taking the department’s top job in January.
“I see great policing happening every day and anyone who has been on the job for a while will say that it’s tougher than ever,” Greenberg said.
The Tustin Police Officers Association honored Detective Ryan Newton as its 2018 Officer of the Year for his dogged pursuit of serial bank robber Daniel David Courson, who was arrested in June in Boise, Idaho.
Eileen Chen receives the TPSSA Employee of the Year award during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“He’s the smartest criminal I’ve ever had to track and it was fun,” Newton said. “It made me a better police officer and a better detective.”
Newton and the Tustin Police Department began chasing Courson in March 2016. He was on parole after serving eight years in prison for a string of 19 bank robberies in Southern California when he burglarized a Tustin home and made off with hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-end artwork, jewelry, collectible coins, and checkbooks.
Police recovered some of the items, including an expensive diamond ring with sentimental value for the owner, who thought he and Courson were friends until he saw video surveillance footage of the theft.
Tustin Police Capt. Robert Wright, left, MCs the Tustin Police Department annual awards banquet at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Newton found Courson living in Park City, Utah, flew there to serve a search warrant, and would have made the arrest if his suspect hadn’t been tipped off.
“Your failures make you a better investigator,” Newton said.
The day Newton received a phone call that Courson had been arrested by Boise police he was on vacation in Cabo and was so excited he bought everyone at the bar a round of drinks.
Jeremy Launch, left, receives the 2018 Tustin Police Officers Association Supervisor of the Year award from the previous year’s winner, Ryan Coe, during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Sgt. Jeff Taylor was awarded the 2018 Medial of Merit, which is given to an officer who demonstrates outstanding individual performance. Taylor is credited with launching realistic training scenarios for the entire department. Recently Taylor set up training scenarios involving mass shootings. The training took place at The District and the Foothill Regional Medical Center.
For preventing a girl from committing suicide in February 2018, Tustin Officers Travis Wilson, Anthony Ramirez, and Zachary Stewart received the Lifesaving Award. The officers were called to a residence where they found a girl who was distressed about having to live with her mother instead of an aunt. Just before leaving the scene, Wilson went back in to check on the girl again and found she had cut her arm to the bone. The three officers were able to apply a tourniquet and stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived.
“Had Officer Wilson not gone back to check on the girl she would have succumbed to her wound,” Greenberg said.
Kristin Fetterling, left, receives the 2018 Tustin Police Support Services Association Supervisor of the Year award for the second year in a row during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Homeless Liaison Officer Bonnie Breeze received the Community Service Award for her contribution to reuniting homeless individuals with family members and connecting them with public agencies that provide mental health, drug rehabilitation, and other social services.
“I know I’m the person receiving this award but these agencies are responsible for the services I’m able to provide to these people,” Breeze said.
Connie Attard, left, receives the Tustin Police Support Services Association Dedication & Professionalism award from Kayla Brennan during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Tustin Police Support Services Association also recognized the outstanding civilian employees who work behind the scenes to help officers protect the public. Among them was Eileen Chen, police records specialist, who was named the association’s 2018 Employee of the Year. She was promoted to her current position more than two years ago after joining the department as a part-time parking control officer in 2014.
“I’m honored and humbled,” Chen said. “I work with a great group of people. I want to thank my past and current supervisors for mentoring me.”
Matt Roque, right, receives the Tustin Police Officers Association Dedication & Professionalism award from the previous year’s winner, Jorge Sanchez, during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department’s recently retired Deputy Chief Paul Garaven smiles as he accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department’s recently retired Deputy Chief Paul Garaven, left, receives the Lifetime Achievement Award from Tustin’s new Deputy Chief, Jeff Blair, during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin’s former Chief, Charles Celano, left, attends the Tustin Police Department annual Awards Banquet with Tustin’s current Chief, Stu Greenberg, at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg announces the Distinguished Service Award during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Officer Andrew Ok, right, receives the 2018 Tustin Police Officers Association Rookie of the Year award from Sgt. Manny Arzate during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Edwin Urias walks up as his name is called to receive the 2018 Tustin Police Support Services Association Rookie of the Year award during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Edwin Urias, left, receives the 2018 Tustin Police Support Services Association Rookie of the Year award from Eileen Chen during the awards banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
James Heller, left, and Greg Eisenman receive the 2018 Community Member of the Year award from Matt Roque, right, during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Don Houle, left, and Stephanie Nichols receive the Crime, Traffic Analysis and Policing Strategies Achievement Award from Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg, right, during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Charlie Ruelas, left, receives the Crime, Traffic Analysis and Policing Strategies Achievement Award from Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Bonnie Breeze receives the Community Service Award from Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg during Tustin’s annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Jeff Taylor receives the Medal of Merit during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tupua Joane smiles as he walks up to receive the 2018 Volunteer of the Year award during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
George Marin walks up to receive the 2018 Cadet of the Year award during the annual Police Department Awards Banquet at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Nathalie Martinez, left, receives the 2018 Explorer of the Year award during the awards banquet.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Donna Puckett attends the annual Police Department Awards Banquet with her husband, Tustin Mayor Charles “Chuck” Puckett, at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Beckman Chamber Orchestra from Beckman High School entertains guests as they arrive for the Tustin Police Department’s annual Awards Banquet at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
