Tuesday, May 17th, 2016

Grand Canyon University Arena

3300 W. Camelback Rd.

6:00 p.m.

#PhxPDPride

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Awards Ceremony

May 17, 2016

Grand Canyon University Arena

3300 W. Camelback Rd.

PHOENIX POLICE

DEPARTMENT

E v e n t

E t i q u e t t e

Thank you for attending tonight’s

ceremony. Each year the Phoenix Police

Department honors those who have

excelled or otherwise distinguished

themselves. This occasion can be festive

at times, and solemn at others. Please

turn off all cell phones and if little ones are

restless please take them to the back of

the arena or into the lobby until they settle

down. Photographs are welcome but

please be respectful of others when

moving about.

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P O S T I N G O F T H E C O L O R S

Phoenix Police Department Honor Guard

N A T I O N A L A N T H E M

Sergeant Vince Lewis, Phoenix Police Department

W E L C O M E & R E M A R K S

Media Personality — Syleste Rodriguez — Master of Ceremonies

Assistant Chief Michael Kurtenbach — Master of Ceremonies

Phoenix Mayor — Greg Stanton

Phoenix City Manager — Ed Zuercher

Chief of Police — Joseph G. Yahner

P R E S E N T A T I O N O F A W A R D S

2015 COPS Volunteer Excellence Award

Medal of Lifesaving/Certificate of Lifesaving

Medal of Merit/Certificate of Meritorious Conduct

Medal of Valor/Certificate of Valorous Conduct

Police Shield

Police Chief’s Unit Award

Supervisor of the Year

C L O S I N G R E M A R K S

Assistant Chief Michael Kurtenbach & Syleste Rodriguez

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Welcome to the Phoenix Police Department’s annual award ceremony.

Welcome to the Phoenix Police Department’s Annual Awards

Ceremony, and thank you for joining us for this important, annual

tradition of recognizing the everyday heroes in our organization

who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in service to

our community.

The guiding values of the Phoenix Police Department are

represented by the acronym P.R.I.D.E., which symbolizes our

commitment to professionalism, integrity, and the law. The

values represented by the P.R.I.D.E. statement include:

Protection & Prevention

Responsibility & Respect

Integrity & Ideals

Dedication to Duty; and

Employee Excellence

While the P.R.I.D.E statement is symbolic of our traditions, it also evokes a feeling

inside every Phoenix Police Department employee that reminds us of the institution

we represent as why we do what we do. It has this feeling, and the exemplary

performance of this year’s honorees that inspired the theme for tonight’s

ceremony, Pride in our Heroes.

Congratulations to all of tonight’s award recipients, and thank you to the families

and friends who have gathered here to share in this honor. Often, it is the

support and encouragement you provide that helps these special heroes to be

successful in this profession.

On behalf of our organization, we would like to extend a special thank you to the

sponsors and friends of our Department who assisted with tonight’s event. Their

support and generosity made it possible for us to host a ceremony worthy of our

award recipients.

Please enjoy the evening and join us in congratulating all of our 2015 honorees.

Joseph G. Yahner, Police Chief

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Joseph G. Yahner - Police Chief

Executive Assistant Chief Dave Harvey - Strategic Services Division

Assistant Chief Harry Markley - Patrol Division

Assistant Chief Sandra Renteria - Support Services Division

Assistant Chief Michael Kurtenbach - Community Services Division

Assistant Chief Mary Roberts - Investigations Division

Pictured left to right: Michael Kurtenbach, Mary Roberts, Joseph Yahner,

Dave Harvey, Sandra Renteria, Harry Markley

PRIDE

Protection Respect Integrity Dedication Excellence

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Volunteer Excellence Award

Selections are based on the number of volunteer hours worked, involvement with special activities or projects that help to promote the

department's image or achieve its objectives, and over-all performance that meets or exceeds department standards.

Medal of Lifesaving/Certificate of Lifesaving

The medal is awarded to an employee for an act that results in the saving or preservation of a human life or lives that otherwise would

have immediately expired without the employee’s direct involvement to provide first aid, medical, and/or physical intervention. Civilians are

awarded the Certificate of Lifesaving.

Medal of Merit/Certificate of Meritorious Conduct

The award is presented to an employee for an act of courage and dedication to duty during the actual performance of a police service involving significant risk or danger to personal safety. Civilians are

awarded the Certificate of Meritorious Conduct.

Medal of Valor/Certificate of Valorous Conduct

The medal is awarded to an employee for a conspicuous act of valor during the actual performance of a police service that involves risk of life and knowledge of that risk. The act clearly delineates valor from other

forms of courage and is clearly above and beyond the call of duty. Civilians are awarded the Certificate of Valorous Conduct.

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Police Shield

The medal is presented to an employee who, during the actual performance of a police service, sustains a significant injury or requires

prolonged medical attention.

Police Chief’s Unit of the Year

The award is presented for the successful completion of a pre-determined, police-related, on-duty act(s) or continuing effort(s) by a

group of employees who are working for a common objective.

Supervisor of the Year

This award is given to a supervisor who had demonstrated excellence in leadership or management and who was previously recognized during

the previous year as an Outstanding Supervisor.

Medal of Honor

The medal is awarded to an employee’s survivor(s) for a line-of-duty death that occurs during the actual performance of a police service.

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A s s i s t a n t C h i e f M i c h a e l K u r t e n b a c h

S y l e s t e R o d r i g u e z

Syleste is thrilled to be working in the Valley of the

Sun. She is a fourth generation Phoenician, original-

ly from Tempe, Arizona; her family is one of the first

five families of Tempe and is listed in the Tempe

Historical Museum. She joined FOX 10 in January

2013. Syleste has been recognized with numerous

awards, Anchor of an Emmy Award Winning Morn-

ing Show Newscast in 2012 and Emmy nominated

for her story in a series on Drought in Arizona in

2010. Syleste is also deeply connected to the His-

panic community in the Valley, emceeing dozens of

events as well as graduating from Valle del Sol’s

Hispanic Leadership Institute in 2008.

Michael Kurtenbach is a Phoenix native who has

proudly served with the Phoenix Police Department

for over 25 years. Throughout his career, he has

been a strong proponent of Community Based

Policing and has remained steadfast in his

commitment to partnership-building with the citizens

of Phoenix, while holding multiple positions and

ranks throughout the organization. Mike was

promoted to Commander in October 2011, serving

in various capacities to include overseeing the

Training Bureau, Community Relations Bureau,

Estrella Mountain Precinct, and the Maryvale

Precinct. Mike was promoted to Assistant Chief in

March 2015 and was tasked with heading the

Department's newly formed Community Services

Division.

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J o i n u s o n S o c i a l M e d i a

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Mr. Larry Anders #V0605

Ms. Debra Gutierrez #V1349

Ms. Deneen Price #V1331

Ms. Maria Rodriguez #V0966

Ms. Elvira Tejada #V1369

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Officer Joshua Adams #6876

Sergeant Assad Ali #6881

Officer Kent Barnes #8434

Officer Mark Boirum #4993

Officer Lisa Brookins #8942

Officer AJ Buffa #7062

Officer Tyrel Busby #7031

Officer Corey Butler #7108

Sergeant Lainn Caldwell #6537

Officer Matthew Callahan #7179

Officer Joanna Collier #7864

Officer Brandon Cozad #7996

Officer Chase Ditwiler #8786

Officer Scott Ferrante #8780

Officer Mark Figueroa #6932

Officer Phillip Fortuna #8818

Officer Adam Giordano #9419

Officer Kendall Goo #9422

Ms. Debra Gutierrez #V1349

Officer Kenneth Harbaugh #6034

Officer Jude Joseph #9194

Officer David Kerns #8363

Officer Mark Laird #8465

Officer Thomas Lannon #7271

Officer Mylen Lubker #9095

Officer Franklin Marino #6024

Officer Ginger Matherly #8731

Officer Eric Miller #8033

Officer Lawrence Naranjo #5501

Mr. Frederick Nelson

Mr. Robert Nelson

Officer Stephen Salazar #6566

Officer Dave Salgado #5560

Officer Philip Schabron #9520

Detective Rob Scott #6158

Sergeant Don Sherrard #4703

Officer John Sticca #7765

Officer Scott Sweet #9079

Officer Don Tarazon #4740

Sergeant Mark Tovar #5978

Lieutenant William Wickers #5730

Officer Andrew Williams #9560

Detective Kevin Wilson #6155

Officer Glen Yoder #8547

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Officer Jesse Abernathy #6439

Officer Michael Buvala #8107

Officer Troy Clark #7727

Officer Michael Collard #7482

Lieutenant Nicholas Diponzio #6494

Lieutenant Russell Frederiksen #5344

Sergeant Andrew Gaboury #7624

Officer Jeffrey Johnson #6998

Officer Christopher Jones #6351

Officer Craig Maze #8006

Officer Thomas McKee #9214

Officer John Oehler #6136

Sergeant Leroy Potter #5422

Officer Terrance Reilly #7075

Sergeant Brian Rimsza #7876

Sergeant Chad Ryan #9126

Officer Jon Shadowens #5587

Officer Robert Wallace #5607

Officer Leslie Montoya #9150

Mr. Treyson Marks

Mr. Ramon Martinez

Mr. Martin Villagran

Officer Phillip Akins #5977

Officer William Clark #4862

Officer Justin Gillett #8925

Officer Timothy Norton #5656

Officer Charles Price #9003

Officer Mark Rao #7097

Officer Todd Schiltz #7622

Officer Nick Wolfenden #7931

Mr. Arsim Sahiti

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Officer Michael Jessie #4662

Officer Phil Belsterling #9107

Officer Angie Briggs #8738

Officer Nate Brooks #8334

Officer Eric Buchanan #8621

Officer Mike Davidson #7038

Officer Tony Diefert #6814

Lieutenant Russell Frederiksen #5344

Officer Butch Geis #5180

Officer Robin Gokool #7605

Sergeant Nick Jimenez #6957

Officer Dave Jurgenson #8439

Officer Travis La Chance #7854

Sergeant Guy Manning #6137

Officer John Mason #8620

Officer Tyler Tatge #7198

Officer Matthew Walker #5945

Officer Dave Williams #5057

Officer Michael Jessie #4662

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B r i a n M u e l l e r

Mueller is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Grand

Canyon University, joining in July 2008 to usher in a new era for

the institution -from an entrepreneurial venture to a

market-supported private university. Taking the successes he

experienced as a teacher and coach at the high school and

small college level as well as his 22 years of experience at the

Apollo Group (the parent company of University of Phoenix),

Mueller transformed GCU from a financially-troubled university

into a $2 billion institution that has become a driving force in

higher education today. Prior to joining GCU, Mueller was CEO

of the University of Phoenix Online.

T i m T h o m a s As a Business Development Executive for Blue Cross Blue

Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), Tim Thomas develops strategies

to attract new business in the large group segment. Tim has

nearly 20 years of employee benefits experience including a

background in a variety of sales positions working with both

new and existing customers. Tim is active in the community and

currently serves as the President of the Phoenix Police

Foundation. Tim is a graduate of the University of Arizona with

a bachelor’s degree in Communication.

M i k e W a t k i s s

Mike Watkiss is a veteran reporter who has been on the front-

line of some of the biggest stories of the last four decades. Mike

has interviewed serial killers and super stars. For the last eight-

een years, he has worked as the Senior Reporter at Phoenix TV

Station KTVK. Mike has received many of journalism's major

awards. In 2009 he was also presented the F.B.I.'s Community

Leadership Award by then F.B.I. Director Robert Mueller.

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Phoenix Police Foundation Board of Trustee

Tim Thomas-President

Strategic Relationship Executive

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona

Mike Proudfit-Vice President

Chief Executive Officer

Titan Alarm, Inc.

Steven M. Binder-Treasurer

Retirement Wealth Strategies, LLC

Charles Katz-Secretary

Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice

Director of ASU’s Center for Violence Prevention and Community Safety

BOARD MEMBERS

Sabina Aaronson

Corporate Banker, Vice President

National Bank of Arizona

Bob Baker

Galloway Asset Management

Kerwin V. Brown

President & CEO

The Black Chamber of Arizona

Bin Jones

Manager, Sales Engineering

Cox Business

Steve Pampinella

Vice President/Team Director

Conference Direct

John B. Musa

Senior Security Specialist

FedEx

Michael A. Paz

Senior Account Manager

Motorola Solutions

Kyle Stephenson

Attorney at Law

Paul Penzone

President

Penzone Consulting and Solutions, LLC

Faith Weese

Chief University Relations Officer

Grand Canyon University

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Thank you to all who support

the Phoenix Police Department.

Gold Shield

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Bronze Shield

Silver Shield

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