Seal Beach residents, activists and local leaders gathered on the grounds of the Old Ranch Country Club to honor local heroes Tuesday, May 21, at the Public Safety Honors Luncheon.
Seal Beach area police officers, lifeguards and fire fighters were honored for their efforts.
Chief Joe Stilinovich described it as the first of what organizers apparently hope will be an annual event.
Stilinovich used the opening ceremonies to praise police volunteers and thank the families of officers. Police Chaplain Don Shoemaker prayed for the first responders to the Salon Meritage shootings of 2011 as well as the families of the victims.
Corporal Michael Henderson of the Seal Beach Police Department received the Officer of the Year award for his outstanding work over the past year.
Community Services Officer Michael McDonald was recognized as the Professional Employee of the Year.
Detective Sergeant Joe Miller and Officer Joe Garcia received the Seal Beach Police Medal of Courage, the department’s second highest honor.
Many of the officers who responded to the Salon Meritage shootings will be accepting the department’s Medal of Merit.
Karl Myers was honored as the Volunteer of the Year for his contribution to the Volunteers in Policing Program.
Mike Maronta, a volunteer with the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services, Rick Shab, and Shelley Drisko a member of the Community Emergency Response Team received special recognition from Chief of Police Joe Stilinovich.
The Medal of Lifesaving was awarded to Cpl. Henderson and officers Mike Ezroj, Ryan Corbin, Brad Davis, Joe Garcia and Jeff Gibson.
The Marksman Award went to Officer Peter Krok. Chief Stilinovich awarded a special Chief’s Commendation to paramedics Scott Belshe, Austin Brawner, and Jake Gilbert of the Orange County Fire Authority. OCFA Engineer Ed Hooper (Ret.) and Capt. Alan Ladd were also commended for their work on the day of the Salon Meritage shootings. Seal Beach’s lifeguards were also honored. Vincent Fiamengo was named Tower Lifeguard of the Year, Darren Sandvig was named Unit Lifeguard of the Year and Steven Tennett was honored as Junior Guard of the Year. The master of ceremonies was talk radio personality and former Seal Beach resident Tim Conway Jr., who hosts a show on KFI 640 AM weeknights from 7-10 p.m.
