Crime & Safety

Murrieta Officer to be Honored at Annual Appreciation Event

Officer Frank LaVigne from the Murrieta Police Department will receive a lifetime achievement award April 18 during the Riverside Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee dinner.

The Riverside Law Enforcement Appreciation Committee will host its 35th annual appreciation dinner on Thursday, April 18.

The reception—which is opened to the public and begins at 5:30 p.m. at Pechanga Resort & Casino—will give out five officer awards: Valor, Investigative Excellence, Excellence in Community Service, Lifetime Achievement and the Rick and Marie Fritts Distinguished K-9 Award. One business will also receive a Community Business Partnership Award.

Among the honorees are Officer Frank LaVigne from the Murrieta Police Department; Anthony Ramborger, Joe Sandoval, Sig Ceballos and Juan Garcia from the Temecula CHP office; and Lead Investigator Dennis Wenker from the Riverside Sheriff's Office/Southwest.

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"It is an honor for those involved in LEAC to recognize the men and women of law enforcement that everyday perform extraordinary feats, risking their lives for the safety of our communities and the people that live in them," stated LEAC chairman Ken Nelson.

Below is more information about the awards and honorees.

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Valor honors an individual for exceptional execution of responsibilities by distinguishing himself/herself with exceptional bravery or heroism beyond ordinary and unusual expectations.

Those honored include: Sergeant Mark Keyser, Beaumont Police Department; Officer Dane Norem, California Highway Patrol Riverside Office; K-9 Officer Jeff Glenn, Corporal Jason Viefhaus and Corporal Jason Waldon, Corona Police Department; Officer Susana Barron and Officer Timothy McGinnis, Hemet Police Department; Sergeant Andrew Elia and Corporal Daniel Sasser, Riverside Sheriff's Office/Jurupa Valley; Deputy Andrew Mata, Riverside Sheriff's Office/Lake Elsinore; and Deputy Kevin Dixon, Riverside Sheriff's Office/Moreno Valley.

Investigative Excellence honors an individual with exceptional execution of responsibilities by successfully concluding a major investigation or by demonstrating outstanding investigative techniques in the course of an investigation.

Those honored for Investigative Excellence include the following individuals. From the Beaumont Police Department, Detective Gregory Adams, Detective Jeremy Harris, Detective Sergeant Ting Sananikone and Detective Steve Truong. From the California Highway Patrol Riverside Office, Officer William Bozyk and Officer Dan Perez. From the California Highway Patrol Temecula Office, Officer Sig Ceballos and Officer Juan Garcia. From the Corona Police Department, Senior Detective Bryan Wood. From the Hemet Police Department, Officer Nelson Gould. From the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Senior Investigator Adrian Soler. From the Riverside Police Department, Detective Laura Ellefson, Detective Andrew Misenheimer, and Detective Brian Money. From the Riverside Sheriff's Office/Gang Task Force, Deputy Julio DeLeon. From the Riverside Sheriff's Office/Jurupa Valley, Lead Investigator Roman Pluimer. From the Riverside Sheriff's Office/ Lake Elsinore, Deputy June Cox, and from the RSO/Special Investigations Bureau, Deputy Aron Wolfe.

Excellence in Community Service honors an exceptional individual for execution of responsibilities in a community service program or project that has had a significant impact on public safety in a community or communities.

Those honored for Excellence in Community Service include the following individuals. From the Bureau of Alcohol Tabacco and Firearms, Special Agent Adam Rudolph. From the California Highway Patrol Temecula Office, Officer Anthony Ramborger. From the Corona Police Department, Officer Clark Eveland, Corporal Skip Shatford and Sergeant Bryan Wilson (Ret.). From the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Senior Investigator Dave Hankins. From the Riverside Police Department, Officer Jeffrey Adcox, Officer Christina Arangure, Sergeant Denny Corbett, Detective Brian Jones, Officer Josh Ontko, Officer Marco (Tony) Ortiz and Sergeant Ryan Wilson. From the Riverside Sheriff's Office/Perris, Sergeant Tim Elwell.

Lifetime Achievement honors an officer who has completed a minimum of 25 years as a sworn law enforcement officer; displayed the highest level of professionalism; continuously exceeded the expectations; sustained positive impact on his/her community; consistently performed his/her duties in a manner in harmony with the department's goals, mission, objectives or values; and has served as a peace officer in Riverside County for the last five years.

Lifetime Achievement honorees include: Officer Joe Sandoval from the California Highway Patrol Temecula Office. Lieutenant Shawn Dredla (Ret.) from the Corona Police Department. Officer Frank LaVigne from the Murrieta Police Department, and Lead Investigator Dennis Wenker from the Riverside Sheriff's Office/Southwest.

The Rick and Marie Fritts Distinguished K-9 Award recognizes a K-9 and Officer Handler for demonstrating a pattern of service above that which is normally displayed, which has had a significant impact on public safety with Western Riverside County during 2012.

The year's honoree is Officer Bryce Murrill and his dog Ranger from the California Highway Patrol/San Gorgonio Office.

In addition to these individual officer awards, LEAC presents a Community Business Partnership Award to a local business that has, for a minimum of five consecutive years, demonstrated sustained support of, and in partnership with, law enforcement in its home community.

This year's honorees include: Miller-Jones Mortuary, Tom Thomas, Cops for Kids, Inc. and Dean Foods and Swiss Premium Dairy.

For more information or to purchase a $50 ticket to the event, call 951-689-1910.


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