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.