OUR LAGUNA:Old home week for city employees

Laguna Beach police officers and department employees, past and present, gathered July 20 at Hennessey’s Tavern to celebrate the careers of John O’Connor and Hilda Madrid.

O’Connor is retiring after 34 years of in law enforcement ? 20 of them in Laguna, 16 of those on a motorcycle. Madrid logged in 25 years, as a senior records manager, crime statistician and occasional translator.

Guests included family as well as officers and employees who served with O’Connor and Madrid through good times and bad over the years.

Madrid was president of the Police Employees Assn., the first unsworn woman to serve in that capacity, when a young officer was investigated for excessive force and later fired ? which caused a schism in the department between supporters and opponents of the dismissal.

“Only a few people have been in the department longer than I have,” Madrid said. “Paul Workman did my background check.”

Workman has risen through the ranks to Captain.

Madrid was the mother of two children, Alicia and Rodney, when she came to work for the city. She gave birth to her third child, Anthony, after she joined the department. Alicia was at the party.

Early co-worker Anita Fisher, who left the department to go to work for Newport Beach 11 years ago, also attended the party. Other former co-workers at the party included Renee Jeffries, wife of Officer Mike Jeffries.

“I hired Renee when I was the City Hall Switchboard Supervisor,” said Carrie Joyce, who subsequently transferred to the Fire Department.

Renee switched from the switchboard to the front desk in the police department.

Department Property and Evidence Manager Cathy Berg started her career with the department 12 years ago as a records manager.

“Hilda trained me, and I worked with her for four years before she went upstairs to the stats department,” Berg said.

Berg helped to plan the party, along with Tina Linden, Nit Farnes, Sue Monlux, Colleen Walloch and Val Zanone.

Madrid has seen four chiefs come and go during her 25 years in the department. Animal Control Officer Joy Falk isn’t far behind, with 23 years of service. Sgt. Jenny Jones, practically an icon for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for her outstanding record in catching impaired motorists, has put in just a year more.

Another sergeant at the party, George Ramos, has racked up 20 years, including a four-year assignment flying for the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program. Sgt. Bob Rahaeuser also did duty with the program.

Retired Sgts. Ray Lardie (medical reasons) and Doris Higgins (full hitch) were among the guests. Lardie still works for the city, but in a different capacity. Higgins is kept busy with her five horses and burro and charitable work, including membership in RURAL, a group bent on keeping horses in Norco. She also served as board member of the Chamber of Commerce and is active in Republican women’s organizations.

Higgins ? Weaver for most of her years in the department ? retired in 2003. She was the first woman in the Laguna department to be offered a patrol officer’s job. For family reasons, she declined the job.

Now a captain, Danell Adams, who started in the department as a summer beach patroller, took the job.

Adams later talked her way into a stretch ? and she had to because she was shorter than required ? as a motorcycle officer.

O’Connor spent most of his Laguna Beach career on a motorcycle. Veteran motorcycle officer Bobby Van Gorder was probably the only guest at the party who could appreciate what a wrench it was for O’Connor to give up the bike in 2002.

Among the long-time-no-sees at the party: O’Connor’s wife, Toni Place, who worked in the Laguna Beach Police Department from 1977 to 1989 ? she used to say she grew in the department. She left to use her extensive training in sexual assault and child abuse cases in the service of the Orange County District Attorney. She also is retired.

They will now have more time to spend with their four grandchildren, Place said.

Guests included long-time municipal employee Joe Chiquette, Fire Department Division Chief Jeff La Tendresse, Deputy City Clerk Mindy La Tendresse, City Manager Ken Frank, Officer Eric Lee, Sgt. Jason Kravetz, code enforcement officer Mariann Mc Naughton and Marlene Mackler.

WATER WORKS

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club is the recipient of a $2,500 Water-wise Garden mini-grant from the Laguna Beach County Water District. The grant will be used to re-landscape the club with drought-tolerant plants and install an efficient irrigation system ? which will reduce the club’s water bill.

SKIP TO THE WRONG LU

In last week’s paper, I wrote about the Board of Realtors’ check presentations to local nonprofits, held at the “Lu Waters Gallery.” I meant the Lu Martin Gallery.

My only excuse is complete brain melt due to the wretched weather we have had.

Lu Waters was a popular Dixieland musician in the 1930s and ‘40s, whose Yerba Buena Jazz Band was named for the island in the San Francisco Bay.

He is not the owner of the long-time fixture on Gallery Row in Laguna Beach.

Lu Martin was lauded by the Realtors for her support of their Taste for Charity event, which raised the $43,000 distributed at a reception at the gallery.

Martin sussed out 37 pieces of art donated to the Realtors’ fund-raiser, which was an overwhelming success.

Her gallery showcases international artists and specialists in oversized oils. She also offers free home consultations.

Mea culpa ? and excuse me while I go and pray to Mother Nature for a break in the weather.