Public safety workers honored
Marisa O’Neil
They patrol the streets, harbor and coast and rescue people in need,
and tonight they’ll get some local recognition.
The American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 will honor local
public safety employees at its 40th annual Law and Order Awards
Banquet. Police and fire employees from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa
as well as an Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol deputy
and a Coast Guard officer will receive awards.
“These people put their lives on the line every day when they go
to work,” said Earl Fusselman, co-chairman of the event. “We have no
hesitation to honor those people once a year.”
Each agency selected its winners and submitted them to the legion.
All will receive honors, but members of the legion will also select a
winner for their Dave Snowden award for longevity and outstanding
service, named for Costa Mesa’s former longtime police chief.
The winner of that award will be announced tonight.
U.S. Coast Guard Executive Petty Officer Matthew D. Vaughn,
stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Narwhal in Newport Beach, will
receive honors for his year-long service locally.
Vaughn, an eight-year veteran who grew up in Long Beach, is
responsible for all aspects of the cutter’s operations, including its
budget and the morale of its crew, said his commanding officer, Lt.
j.g. James O’Mara. He’s also a boarding officer, meaning he’s the
off-shore equivalent of a beat cop patrolling the ocean and enforcing
laws.
Costa Mesa police Sgt. Jack Archer is receiving his department’s
Supervisor of the Year award. Archer has worked for the department 25
years, starting as a reserve officer and eventually working as a
homicide detective on cases including the 1991 Denise Huber murder.
Huber, 23, was kidnapped from Costa Mesa in 1991. Her body was
found in 1993 in a freezer in Arizona and John Famalaro now sits on
death row for her murder.
K.C. Gleason, a Costa Mesa officer in the Airborne Law Enforcement
Services helicopter program, will receive that city’s Officer of the
Year award. Gleason has worked in the helicopter program for 17 of
his roughly 25 years, fulfilling a childhood dream, Carver said.
“He’s recognized countywide as one of the best helicopter
observers,” Carver said.
Others receiving awards include:
* Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Keith Fujimoto will receive a
commendation for long-term dedication to public service.
He has worked in fire service for 28 years, eight of those as
battalion chief.
Fujimoto established the Trauma Intervention Program to help
victims and families at accident scenes. He is also a member of Costa
Mesa’s honor guard.
* Capt. Herbert Ohde, a 25-year veteran, will receive Costa Mesa’s
Firefighter of the Year Award. In addition to his firefighting
duties, Ohde works as an instructor in the explorer program, at Santa
Ana College and for others training within the department.
* Fire protection specialist Brenda Emrick, who has worked for the
department for less than a year, will receive Costa Mesa’s Fire
Service Professional of the Year award. Emrick has implemented and
revamped many of the department’s community programs including its
citizens fire academy and CPR instruction.
* Newport Beach Lifeguard Lt. Mitch White will receive the Marine
Safety Officer of the Year award for his second time. White grew up
in Newport Beach and has worked for the department since 1975,
training lifeguards, overseeing CPR education in local schools and
working on a cervical-injury prevention program at Hoag Hospital.
* Capt. Dave Bowman, a 30-year veteran, will receive the
Firefighter of the Year award for Newport Beach. Bowman has worked as
a firefighter, paramedic, public information officer and video
coordinator for the department.
* Ethan Poli will receive Newport Beach’s Seasonal Lifeguard of
the Year award. Hired at age 16, the Newport Harbor High School
graduate just finished his ninth season of working as a lifeguard.
* Deputy William Nelson will receive honors for his service with
the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol. Nelson has
worked in the department for 20 years and with the Harbor Patrol
since 1991.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.