Public safety officials recognized

Marisa O’Neil

The American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 named Costa Mesa fire

Battalion Chief Keith Fujimoto the recipient of the Dave Snowden

Award at its Law and Order Awards banquet this week.

This is the 40th year for the awards ceremony recognizing public

safety officials in Newport-Mesa and the second year for the Dave

Snowden Award. Legion members select the recipient of that award,

named for a former Costa Mesa police chief, given to recognize

longevity and service to the community.

Fujimoto has worked for the department for 28 years, eight of

those as battalion chief. He established the Trauma Intervention Team

to help victims and families at accident scenes.

Each department submitted award winners for the banquet. Other

award winners included:

* Newport Beach Police Officer Bob Foss, who received that

department’s officer of the year award. Foss, a retired U.S. Marine

sergeant, is a member of the SWAT team and defensive tactics

instructor program.

He teaches in the teen academy and citizens academy, and teaches

pepper-spray, less-than-lethal weapons and other training classes for

officers.

* Wendy Abbott, who was named volunteer of the year for Newport

Beach police. Abbott has served as a volunteer since 2001, working

206 hours in 2004.

Her duties include handing out crime alerts, checking on the homes

of vacationing residents and taking part in public events.

* Newport Beach Police crime prevention specialist Andi Querry,

who received the civilian of the year award from the department.

Querry coordinates the neighborhood watch program in the city,

prepares crime alerts for residents and does home security

inspections.

Employees from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Harbor

Patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Narwhal, the Costa Mesa police

and fire departments and the Newport Beach fire department also

received awards.