Police, prosecution recognized for work [Updated]
The Newport Beach Police Department on Thursday honored its staff for devotion and heroism in the field and the Orange County district attorney’s office for closing an unsolved murder case.
At the annual Police Appreciation Breakfast, the top honor, the Chief Citation, went to Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy, D.A. investigators Susan Frazier and Larry Montgomery, and paralegal Dena Basham. The prosecutorial team worked with police to convict former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki and his girlfriend Nanette Packard of killing Newport businessman William McLaughlin in 1994.
Fifteen sworn members of the police force were honored with a Lifesaving Award for their quick thinking and heroic actions during the annual event sponsored by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Officer Ryan Bean was recognized for searching for a woman whose husband believed she was suicidal. Bean tracked her to a Costa Mesa motel, where she was found unconscious in a room. She was taken to Hoag Hospital, where she recovered.
In another incident recognized at the breakfast, police responded to a call from an out-of-state cousin who believed a family member was suicidal and had been carrying a knife around for a month before inflicting deep, violent cuts to his abdomen. Police performed lifesaving first aid before paramedics took over and the man was saved.
Five Newport Beach police officers received an Award of Merit for saving a man who locked himself in an apartment with the intent to kill himself. After the man stabbed himself in the neck, police were able to compress the wound and save his life.
Police Chief Jay Johnson addressed the crowded room with figures, including the estimated $5 million in recovered property and about 2-minute, 30-second average response time to emergency calls.
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Award Winners
Lifesaving Award:
Officer Ryan Bean, Lt. Jeff Brouwer, Officer Neal Schuster,, Officer Shawn Preasmyer, Officer Adam Gilbert, Sgt. Corey Wolik, Officer John Mika, Officer Robert Hufford, Officer Pete Carpentieri, Officer Anthony Yim, Officer Neal Schuster, Officer Andrew Sarega, Custodial Officer Tim Stewart, Custodial Officer Daran Kanbara, Custodial Officer Troy Long
Award of Merit:
Sgt. Steve Burdette, Officer Randy Querry, Det. Pete Carpentieri, Officer Monica Aguilar, Officer Randy Lawton
Officer of the Year:
William Hume
Supervisor of the Year:
Sgt. Joseph Short
Civilian of the Year:
Crime Prevention Specialist Kathy Lowe
Reserve Officer of the Year:
George “Chip” Cuthbert
Volunteer of the Year:
Joel Gerson