Behind the Badge
Once a year, Westminster PD takes time to honor its own — officers who have saved lives, supervisors who inspire, dispatchers who calmly handle trauma and volunteers who dedicate hundreds of hours to support the department.
“Most of their exceptional work goes unnoticed, even though it impacts so many,” said Police Chief Kevin Baker. “We must take the time to recognize and honor (them).”
The Westminster Police Department held its annual Awards Ceremony May 7 at the Rose Theater, which drew community supporters, law enforcement colleagues, family members and friends.
“We will always need officers and civilians like those here today who will use intellect, compassion and courageousness to prevent the tyranny of the lawless, and to preserve the freedom of the law-abiding,” Baker said.
New this year, the department recognized two retired members of the department who had a significant impact at Westminster PD — former Chief James I. Cook and retired Officer Al Brackett.
Cook is credited with transforming Westminster PD into a department that would later be revered for its innovation and community policing.
Former Westminster Police Chief James Cook, right, receives the Police Cross Award during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
He founded the TARGET unit after gang members claimed the life of a local school teacher in the early 1990s. This unit helped create a multidisciplinary approach to reduce gang violence called vertical prosecution.
Police say his work with Westminster is responsible for saving lives and making the community safer.
Officer Al Brackett was the second recipient of the new award, honored for his work with Police Explorers Program.
He oversaw the program for nearly three decades, inspiring youth interested in law enforcement.
Of those Brackett has mentored in the Explorers, about 50 have joined law enforcement agencies in Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties.
“This was just something I did,” Brackett said. “The youth are important to me and the feeling of seeing them advance in their career is something I’ll never get used to.”
Brackett also founded “Every 15 Minutes,” a program adopted by schools across Orange County that stages drunken driving crashes to caution teens against the dangers of drinking and driving.
Al Brackett, right, receives the Police Cross Award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Law enforcement professionals like Cook and Brackett are examples of the great impact one officer can have on a community.
Baker thanked those who continue to serve the city every day, and recognized the hundreds of thousands dedicated to the profession in departments across the nation.
“To be honest, it goes against human nature to head toward danger instead of away from it,” Baker said. “I’m glad our department is blessed with folks like you, who place such a high value on the lives of others.”
Here’s a look at the 2014 WPD Award Winners:
Medal of Courage
Sgt. Cord Vandergrift and Sgt. Eddie Esqueda
Sgt. Cord Vandergrift receives the Medal of Courage from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Sgt. Eddie Esqueda receives the Medal of Courage from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The three were honored for saving the life of a felony suspect trapped in a burning truck.
Police on Dec. 1 responded to reports of a man simulating a weapon in his waistband in the parking lot of a local gym.
The suspect led officers on a dangerous multi-city, high-speed pursuit before crashing his car down an embankment of the 405 freeway.
The man’s leg was pinned in the car, and officers helped free him and carried him to safety.
The passenger died in the crash, but officers pulled him from the wreck and tried to revive him until paramedics arrived.
An officer receives the Medal of Courage from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Medal of Courage and Chief’s Award from Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker, left, are Sgt. Eddie Esqueda, Sgt. Cord Vandergrift, Cypress Police Officer Mike McBain and Seal Beach Police Officer Joe Garcia.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Medal of Merit
Sgt. Mark Lauderback and Officers Tim Walker and Bill Eifert
Sgt. Mark Lauderback receives the Medal of Merit from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer Tim Walker receives the Medal of Merit from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer William Eifert receives the Medal of Merit from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
These officers arrested a suspect who robbed a bank then hijacked a taxicab in an attempt to evade police.
Police on Dec. 5 responded to reports of an armed robbery in the 15000 block of Brookhurst Street.
The suspect jumped into the backseat of a taxicab. The taxi driver was unaware the man had committed a crime.
When police pulled the taxi over, the suspect got into the driver’s seat and led officer on a high-speed pursuit.
The suspect, at times driving up to 90 miles per hour, ran red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road and finally hit another vehicle head-on.
The 27-year-old suspect was arrested on suspicion of bank robbery, felony evading and auto theft.
He was suspect in several other bank robberies in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Receiving the Medal of Merit from Chief Kevin Baker, left, is Sgt. Mark Lauderback, Officer William Eifert and Officer Tim Walker.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Lifesaving Medal
K-9 Officer Travis Hartman
Hartman on Aug. 11 performed CPR on a 64-year-old man who was not breathing and lying on the floor of a laundry mat on Westminster Boulevard.
The man’s face and lips were purple, and he did not have a pulse. After two minutes of performing CPR, Hartman revived the man.
Officer Travis Hartman receives the Life Saving Medal from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Police Cross Award
James Cook
Al Brackett
Supervisor of the Year
Sgt. Cord Vandergrift
Vandergrift was selected for his positive attitude and mentorship.
Colleagues say he lets his subordinates make their own decisions, helping them to grow in their careers.
Vandergrift has been a member of West County SWAT for the last 16 years. He is a member of the WPD range staff, trauma support team and the Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center training staff.
Sgt. Cord Vandergrift receives the Medal of Courage from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer of the Year
Officer Paul Walker
Walker has been with the department for 10 years, and is described by his colleagues as a hard worker with a great sense of humor.
Walker is the Lead Explorer Advisor and serves as a mentor for youth interested in law enforcement.
He is also a field training officer, a member of the trauma support team and a director on the Westminster Police Association board.
Officer Paul Walker receives the Officer of the Year award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Investigator of the Year
Det. Andy Stowers
This award is named after Lt. Ron Weber, a 27-year veteran of WPD who died in 2003 from cancer he contracted while investigating methamphetamine labs.
Westminster police honor his memory every year by recognizing a detective who has provided high-caliber investigations.
Stowers has been with Westminster for nine years, five of those as a detective.
He is currently assigned to the gang unit, and has also been a member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force.
Stowers has worked a variety of cases, including complex homicides and assisted in the Salon Meritage case, Orange County’s deadliest shooting.
Westminster Detective Andy Stowers was honored as Investigator of the Year. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Award of Excellence
Officers Dave Ferronato, Derek Link, and James Delk.
Dispatcher Linette Giardina
PSO Cynthia Moranville
Receiving the awards of Excellence from Chief Kevin Baker, left, during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony is from left, PSO Cynthia Moranville, Dispatcher Linette Giardina, Officer James Delk, Officer Dave Ferronato, Officer Derek Link, Sgt. Edward Esqueda and Sgt. Cord Vandergrift.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Top Shot Award
This award recognizes the officer with the best marksmanship. There was a four-way tie between Detectives Anil Adam and Andy Pinvidic, Traffic Investigator Jeremy Fletcher and Officer Steve Booth.
Officer Steve Booth, center, and Detective Anil Adam, right, receive the Top Shot Award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Officer Jeremy Fletcher accepts the Top Shot Award at the annual ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
ATAC Award
Det. Michael Harvey
Harvey was recognized by the Auto Theft Advisory Committee for recovering 28 stolen vehicles, resulting in six arrests.
Det. Michael Harvey receives the ATAC Award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
M.A.D.D. Award
Officers Jerad Kent and Stewart DeJong
Kent was honored for making 67 drunken driving arrests and DeJong logged 30 drunken driving arrests.
Officer Stewart DeJong receives the MADD Award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony. Officer Jerad Kent, not in photo, also received the award.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Military Service Recognition
USMC Staff Sgt. Jeremy Fletcher
USMC Maj. Brian Perez
Part-time Employee of the Year
Animal Control Officer Roland Perez
Perez assisted in an incident in which a pit bull attacked its owner and three other family members causing serious injury.
The victims of the pit bull attack were hospitalized and investigating officers relied on Perez’s expertise.
Animal Control Officer Ronald Perez is awarded Part-Time Employee of the Year by Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Civilian Employee of the Year
Police Dispatcher Ashley Martin
Martin was recognized for her ability to handle intense situations and traumatic calls with a level-head and great professionalism.
She is responsible for efficiently and effectively handling radio traffic, and officers say she is constantly looking to improve her work.
Martin is described as a dispatcher who is committed, with a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.
Police Dispatcher Ashley Martin is awarded Civilian Employee of the Year by Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Community Service Award
Crime Analyst Elizabeth Yee
Yee has been with the department for nine years as a Crime Analyst.
She is responsible for analyzing data and distributing it to officers in the form of bulletins, charts, maps and reports.
Yee’s work helps officers better patrol the city, identify on crime trends and come up with plans for more effective crime prevention.
Elizabeth Yee receives the Community Service Award from Chief Kevin Baker during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Volunteers of the Year
Laura Dela and Don Schuler
Dela works in the department’s Professional Standards Unit where she processes uniform requests for the department and files employee evaluations, among other tasks.
She dedicated 294 hours of service in 2014.
Schuler helps run the volunteer program and participates in many of the community outreach events including National Night Out, the Tet Festival and Safety Day.
Schuler dedicated 301 hours of service last year.
Laura Dela is recognized by Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker as the 2014 Volunteer of the Year, one of two, during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Don Shuler, right, is congratulated by Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker as the 2014 Volunteer of the Year, one of two, during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Chief’s Award of Special Recognition
Cypress Police Officer Mike McBain
Seal Beach Police Officer Joe Garcia
Both officers played a role in the incident involving a suspect trapped in a burning truck, which Westminster officers received the Medal of Courage for.
Receiving the Chief’s Award from Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker is Cypress Police Officer Mike McBain during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Receiving the Chief’s Award from Westminster Police Chief Kevin Baker is Seal Beach Police Officer Joe Garcia during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Community Partnership Award
Westminster Boys & Girls Club
The Club partners with the PD in various events every year including the annual Shop with a Cop and the WPOA Hoops League.
The Boys & Girls Club of Westminster receive the Community Partnership Award during the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Shawn Miller sings the national anthem at the start of the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Westminster PD Honor Guard presents colors at the start of the 2014 Westminster PD Awards Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
