Behind the Badge
The room at the Westminster Rose Center was filled with police officers, employees, their families and friends from neighboring agencies for the Westminster PD swearing-in and promotions ceremony that took place Jan. 30.
Westminster Police Chief Ralph Ornelas led the ceremony that welcomed two new police officers and a police dispatcher, and promoted three veterans of the agency.
Westminster Police Chief Ralph Ornelas, left, with new and promoted officers, from left, Officers Jonathan Mullin, Nicole Brown, Sgt. Jeremy Hill, Deputy Chief Albert Panella and Commander Alan Iwashita.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
After introducing the many city officials also in attendance, Ornelas asked for a moment of silence for officers killed in the line of duty.
“This month of January we’ve lost nine police officers,” Ornelas said.
Police Chaplain Robert Benoun gave the invocation and the Westminster PD Honor Guard presented the Colors before Ornelas called up the new members of the agency.
“You all made it difficult for me to choose,” said Ornelas of the selection process for new hires and promotions. “I thank you all for the hard work you put in day in and day out.”
Westminster Police Officer Nicole Brown receives her new badge from her little sister, Emma Schuman, 11, after being sworn in.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Larissa Perez, who completed the dispatcher course at Rio Hondo College in May 2018, was sworn in as the newest member of Westminster PD’s police dispatch team. Ornelas said he enjoyed her candor when he interviewed her for the position.
“I was impressed interviewing her,” he said. “She had the spirit to share her thought process.”
Perez wasn’t the only new member of the agency graduating from Rio Hondo College. Officers Nicole Brown and Jonathan Mullin, who recently graduated from the police academy, were also sworn in.
Westminster Police Officer Nicole Brown gets a hug from her sister, Emma Schuman, 11, after receiving her new badge.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Ornelas introduced Brown by commenting on her volunteerism. He said her time volunteering as a soccer coach shows she is on track for public service, the type of service required of police officers.
“She’s given to the community before,” Ornelas said. “[She was a] servant of the community in helping out the young people.”
After being sworn in, Brown said, “I’m happy to be here in Westminster and be part of this family.”
Ornelas introduced Mullin by commenting on his accent.
“If you have talked to him, you will notice he doesn’t have an accent form the U.S.,” said Ornelas.
Alan Iwashita is sworn in as Westminster Police Department’s new commander by Chief Ralph Ornelas during a swearing-in ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Mullin was born in Norwich in the United Kingdom, where his brother is currently a police officer. Accompanying him at the ceremony were his wife, baby daughter and father-in-law, who is also a Westminster PD consulting lieutenant.
Following the swearing in of the new hires, longtime members of the Westminster PD, Jeremy Hill, Alan Iwashita and Mark Lauderback officially received their promotions.
Westminster Police Commander Alan Iwashita receives his new badge from his daughters, Sadie, 11, and Reece, 18, during a swearing-in ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Hill, who has been with the agency for 13 years, was promoted to sergeant. He worked in patrol before being assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2009 as an auto theft detective. He also worked several other assignments, including in gangs and robbery-homicide. More recently, he was assigned to patrol as a field training officer (FTO) before promoting to his current rank.
“Just recently, Sgt. Hill used the robot [on a police call]that we use in patrol – he did an excellent job,” Ornelas said of the new technology being used at the agency.
Westminster Police Commander Alan Iwashita gets a hug from his daughters, Reece, 18, and Sadie, 11, after being sworn in.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Iwashita, who began his law enforcement career in 1998, was promoted to commander. Beginning in patrol, he worked as an FTO before being assigned to the Detective Bureau in 2000. While assigned to detectives, Iwashita worked commercial burglary, domestic violence and sex crimes, and robbery-homicide. In 2011, Iwashita promoted to the rank of sergeant. As a patrol sergeant, he supervised the West County SWAT Team, the Crisis Negotiations Unit and the Trauma Support Team. In 2017, he was assigned to supervise the Crimes Against Persons Unit, before he was promoted to commander in December 2018.
Jonathan Mullin is sworn in by Chief Ralph Ornelas as Westminster Police Department’s new officer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Lauderback, who was born and raised in Westminster, began his career with the WPD in 1994. He worked patrol until assigned to the Traffic Bureau as a motor officer in 1998. While he was a motor officer, he focused his efforts on the apprehension of impaired drivers – as a result, he was awarded Orange County’s DUI Officer of the Year by MADD for his apprehension of 201 impaired DUI drivers.
He was later reassigned to the Detective Bureau in 2002, where he worked auto theft, fraud, child abuse and domestic violence. He was promoted to the rank of corporal on January 2011 and then to sergeant in 2014. As a sergeant, he was assigned to patrol until he was selected for the Professional Standards Unit to supervise the hiring, recruitment and training of new officers. He was promoted to commander in 2017 and in December 2018, he was promoted to deputy chief, where he now oversees the entire operations of the police department.
Jonathan Mullin receives his new Westminster Police Department badge from his wife, Victoria Mullin, during a swearing-in ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Outside Westminster PD, Lauderback instructs police recruits at the Golden West College Police Academy on the topics of stress management and lifetime fitness.
“I want to thank everyone attending tonight,” Lauderback told the audience. “In this new position, I’m going to work hard to represent everybody here.”
Jeremy Hill is sworn in by Chief Ralph Ornelas as Westminster Police Department’s new sergeant during a swearing-in ceremony at the Rose Center.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Before ending the ceremony, the chief and agency bid farewell to Al Panella, who began at the agency as a Westminster PD explorer at 14. This was his last day before retirement, most recently holding the position of deputy chief.
“It’s truly been an honor to work with Al,” said Ornelas.
Panella congratulated the new hires and those receiving promotions.
“I’m truly going to miss it,” he said. “I wouldn’t have done it any other way.”
Westminster Police Sgt. Jeremy Hill receives his new badge from his wife, Cheryl Hill.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Westminster Police Chief Ralph Ornelas, left, congratulates Mark Lauderback as Westminster Police Department’s new deputy chief.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Westminster Police Deputy Chief Mark Lauderback receives his new badge from his mother, Sandra Martinez.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Larissa Perez is congratulated by Chief Ralph Ornelas after being sworn in as Westminster Police Department’s new dispatcher.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
