Turning in a team effort

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Police Det. Mark Hamilton played basketball last year

with a man featured on “America’s Most Wanted” list of criminals.

Hamilton was, of course, undercover. In July, he helped track down and

arrest Anh The Duong, the 26-year-old man suspected in six murders and

several high-profile jewelry store robberies, including one at Fashion

Island.

On Thursday, speaking at the annual Police Appreciation Breakfast,

Hamilton joked about his dangerous encounter.

“I even scored six points in that game,” he said with a laugh, after

accepting his Award of Merit.

Hamilton added that he always realizes the danger of working

undercover but does not “really worry about it too much” because he

believes in the competence of his colleagues.

“Everybody knows what’s going on, and somebody’s always watching you,”

he said. “I completely trust the people I work with.”

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce teamed with the Police

Department to hand out the 10 awards.

Tom Fischbacher earned the highest honor -- Officer of the Year.

“I feel so fortunate to work for a community that gives us the

resources to make a difference,” he said. “This is a great honor.”

The common theme in all of the award recipients’ acceptance speeches:

Their jobs call for team efforts.

“This award is an acknowledgment of what all my staff has done,” said

Capt. Tim Riley, who was recognized for helping the department update its

technology and equipment over the last four years.

The annual ceremony is an opportunity for the business community to

recognize the Police Department, said Richard Luehrs, the chamber’s

president.

“With every year, I find myself getting a deeper understanding and

forming an emotional attachment to the Police Department,” he said. “It

gives us all renewed enthusiasm and makes us feel blessed that we’re

surrounded by such dedicated people.”

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .

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AWARD RECIPIENTS

Officer of the Year: Officer Tom Fischbacher

Supervisor of the Year: Sgt. Mike McDermott

Reserve Officer of the Year: Officer Rick Levesque

Civilian of the Year: Community Services Officer Cathie Lightfoot

Volunteer of the Year: Earl Fusselman

Merit Awards:

Capt. Tim Riley

Officer Randy Lawton

Det. Mark Hamilton

Officer Mark Fisher

Officer Jason Krauss