Page 4 March 23, 2017 TORRANCE TRIBUNE TerriAnn in Torrance The 4th Annual Torrance Police Department Awards and Appreciation Luncheon By TerriAnn Ferren The 4rd Annual Torrance Police Department Awards and Appreciation Luncheon will be held next week on Thursday, March 30 at the Torrance Marriott. This special event is an open invitation to all Torrance businesses and residents. For the past three years, the Torrance business community, Chamber volunteers and residents have wholeheartedly supported this special event. Over four years ago, President and CEO of the Torrance Chamber of Commerce Donna Duperron began the tradition of honoring our local police with an awards and appreciation luncheon which was started to “honor brave officers of the Torrance Police Department who, while serving in an official or unofficial capacity, having distinguished themselves through outstanding performance above and beyond the call of duty and/or standard job responsibilities.” Donna said, “The Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to partner with the Torrance Police Department in presenting this annual appreciation and awards luncheon. Members of the Torrance Police Department spend each day guarding our lives and property, often at great risk to themselves. This luncheon provides the opportunity for our community to say thank you and recognize those who give above and beyond.” Mark A. Matsuda, Torrance Chief of Police, said, “I am very proud of this year’s honorees and I would like to personally thank them for representing the Torrance Police Department in such outstanding fashion. The positive impacts to the community from each inspirational act are immeasurable. Each recipient has embodied the ideals of Excellence Through Teamwork and Selfless Service.” He went on to say that he is also thankful to the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, the Torrance Marriott, and the Torrance Police Awards Committee for making this annual event a true success. Emmett Miller, ABC News National Correspondent, will once again serve as Master of Ceremonies. Katrina Arnold, Events Coordinator for the Torrance Chamber, headed the planning committee this year with the help of Leslie Cortez, Charlotte Melsh, Tim Thompson, Robert Van Lingen, Sean Van Lingen, Jennifer Frew, Larry M. Halvorsen, Lieutenant Jennifer Uyeda, Lieutenant Chris Roosen, Lieutenant James Titiriga, Sergeant Dave Koenig, Sergeant Mike Chance, Sergeant Ron Harris, Officers: Tracy Gowdy, Eric Applegate, Erika Chance, Kelli McCarthy, Erin Velarde, Services Officer Christina Szczypkowski, and Administrative Analyst Kent Sentinella. The awards presented for 2017 will include the Chief’s Award to Guillermo Soto, Michael Strosnider and Raymond Washington; the Special Recognition Award to Sean O’Rourke and Rob Waldrop; the Unit Citation Award to Matt Slawson and Steven Masone; the Unit Citation Award – Sex Crimes Unit and Youth Services Section to Danielle Morreale, Lucas Ryono, Jesus Garcia, Erin Velarde, Nicole Connor, Darryl Tatum, Erik Eidet, John “Zeke” Thackray and Patrick Hunt; the Unit Citation Award – Community Lead Officer Detail to Michael Guell, Scott Norris, Daniel Cid, Greg Dukeman, Eric Bernier, Thomas Besse, Matthew Wessels, Stephen Kim and Charles Fisher; the Civilian Employee of the Year to Kent Sentinella; the Volunteer of the Year to Melinda Palmer; the Cadet of the Year to Katlyn Randolph; the Sworn Officer of the Year to Matt Slawson; the Life Saving Award to James Walker IV, Christopher Tomsic and Joshua Satterfield; and the Humanitarian Award to Branden Nakashima and Mark Cuny. And this yea,r the Business Recognition Award will be presented to Pelican Products. Torrance is unique in so many ways and this luncheon, honoring the men and women of our police department, demonstrates not only the respect citizens have for the force, but the genuine gratitude for their service. Something I have noticed through the four years of this event is how volunteers involved leap to help year after year with every aspect of the luncheon. And speaking with people who have attended the event, I have discovered each one has their own story about how a member of the Torrance Police Department either helped, inspired or comforted. We all know that we here in Torrance have a special and unique police department. Officers frequently visit schools and are friends to our children. Hickory Elementary School students will once again provide artwork for each table at the luncheon. Students draw pictures of what they think a police officer does, or writes a message to the officers on the back. Two of the pictures I have are amazing. One youngster wrote, “Dear Torrcean [sic] Policemen and Policwomen [sic], Thank you for keeping my family safe. And See TerriAnn, page 7 Christopher Tomsic, Life Saving Award. Joshua Satterfield, Life Saving Award. Guillermo Soto, Chief’s Award honoree. James Walker IV, Life Saving Award. Katlyn Randolph, Cadet of the Year. Kent Sentinella, Civilian Employee of the Year. Matthew Slawson, Sworn Officer of the Year. Michael Strosnider, Chief’s Award nominee. Raymond Washington, Chief’s Award nominee. Sean O’Rourke, Special Recognition Award. Robert Waldrop, Special Recognition Award. Stephen Corti, Pelican Products (Business Recognition Award).
Torrance_032317_FNL_lorez
To see the actual publication please follow the link above