Last night, the Riverside Dept. of Public Safety recognized members of the department in its annual award ceremony. The awards given recognize the commendable and honorable deeds or acts department members performed in the line of duty throughout the previous year.
"The annual awards ceremony is an opportunity for us to showcase the good work and heroism that the women and men of this department display every day," Chief Greg Mills, Director of Public Safety, said.
SWAT Team Member - Firefighter Adam Ellis
The Special Weapons and Tactics Team Member award is presented to those tactical officers who have completed the basic 50-Hour SWAT Operations school.
Tenure Service Ribbon
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Firefighter Kevin Oliver: Five Years
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Patrolman William Moore: Five Years
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Patrolman Al Sauer: Five Years
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Master Patrolman Jefferson Taylor: Five Years
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Master Patrolman Josh Collins: Five Years
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Captain Scott Stubler: Five Years
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Captain Dave Johnson: Five Years
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Director Lloyd Michael Shelton: Five Years
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Master Patrolman Brent Holland: Ten Years
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Sergeant Dean Noll: Ten Years
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Captain Chris Skinrood: Fifteen Years
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Captain Michael Costanzo: Fifteen Years
Safe Driving Award
The Safe Driving Award is presented to those members who demonstrate safe driving habits for a period of two years with no motor vehicle accidents. For 2009 and 2010, this award is presented to
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Patrolman Matt Westrich
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Patrolman Andrew Marr
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Master Patrolman Brent Holland
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Master Patrolman Tony Dougherty
Specialist Award
The Specialist Award is a ribbon awarded to members who have received extensive training in a certain specialty and serve in a function that is of great benefit to the Department. This award is presented to
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Patrolman Matt Westrich - Advanced Scholl Resource Officer
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Patrolman Jeremiah Fisher - Police Cyclist
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Detective Jessie Winson - Arm Control/Escort System, Weapon Ground Defense Disarming, Power Handcuffing, Knife Defense/Disarming
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Sergeant Dean Noll - Doppler Traffic Radar Instructor, Traffic Lidar Instructor, Arm Control/Escort System, Weapon Ground Defense Disarming
Good Conduct Award
The Good Conduct Award is presented to sworn and non-sworn members who continuously demonstrate conscientious adherence to all Departmental rules, regulations, guidelines, and policies with no more than two written reprimands within a period of five (5) years. Members shall be eligible for this award after five (5) years of service with the department. This award is presented to
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Firefighter Kevin Oliver
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Patrolman William Moore
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Patrolman Al Sauer
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Master Patrolman Jefferson Taylor
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Master Patrolman Josh Collins
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Captain Dave Johnson
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Captain Scott Stubler
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Director Lloyd Michael Shelton
Meritorious Service Award
The Meritorious Service Award may be bestowed upon a member for an exceptional contribution to the progress of the Department such as a submission of an idea, device, method, or exceptionally meritorious service to the department over a period. This award is presented to
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Patrolman Matthew Westrich - For the last four years, Patrolman Westrich has been assigned as the School Resource Officer at Park Hill South. During his time there, he has worked diligently to implement a wide variety of programs such as: Annual Junior Fire/Police Academy, Electronic Device Registration, Anonymous Tips Line, Text-a-Tip Crime Reporting. Patrolman Westrich has also developed twenty-seven different law related educational classes that are available for presentation to students and teachers each year. In addition, he also travels to other schools within the Park Hill District, providing drug recognition in-service training for district staff. In recognition of his outstanding contributions for the betterment of the Department and the enrichment within our community, Patrolman Matthew Westrich is awarded the Meritorious Service Award.
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Detective Billy Aaron - Detective Aaron is assigned all background investigations for prospective employees. Each investigation he is assigned, he completes with the utmost professionalism and attention to detail. Public Safety Departments require employees of high moral character and integrity. Detective Aaron is our last line of defense in assuring that the employees we have hired embody the necessary attributes our profession demands. In recognition of his outstanding contributions for the betterment of the Department, Detective Billy Aaron is awarded the Meritorious Service Award.
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Sergeant Doug VanLeeuwen - Over the last ten years, Sergeant VanLeeuwen has served the City of Riverside in a manner by which many consider excellence! He not only performs his assigned tasks with an outstanding level of professionalism, he also willing accepts and completes mundane tasks that are imperative to day-to-day operations. Sergeant VanLeeuwen has always been slow to anger and quick with a smile. He is always ready with a positive compliment and encouragement for fellow employees. He knows the importance of not only supervising his staff, but also leading them by example, displaying unquestionable integrity and strength of character. In recognition of his outstanding contributions for the betterment of the Department, Sergeant Doug VanLeeuwen is awarded the Meritorious Service Award.
Chief’s Commendation
The Chief’s Commendation may be bestowed upon a member for an exceptional act that brings credit to the member and the Department. This award is presented to
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Communications Specialists Tina Griffin and Communications Specialists Janice Bonsack - On March 18, 2010 Communications Specialists Janice Bonsack and Tina Griffin were on duty in Riverside Communications Unit. Specialist Griffin was in the final week of the Department’s basic communicator training program and was operating as though she were not under direct supervision. At 2:25 pm, several 911 calls rang into the Communications Center, reporting an injury accident on the Fairfax Bridge. What was not known until officers arrived at the scene was that one of the victims in the crash had been partially ejected and was pinned between the vehicle and the bridge’s structure. Though the call was life threatening and extremely stressful, Specialist Griffin performed well and did not need assistance from Specialist Bonsack. At approximately 2:58 pm, another 911-call came into the Communications Center requesting police be sent to their house immediately, at which time the caller then hung-up. Assisting Griffin, Specialist Bonsack attempted to reconnect with the 911 caller to determine the nature of the emergency, while Griffin dispatched officers to the second 911 call and continued to handle radio traffic from the vehicular crash call. Additional information obtained by Bonsack revealed that the second call was a disturbance between the calling party and another individual who was refusing to leave his residence. Officers arriving on the disturbance call located the subject, who was armed with a handgun, at which time an officer assist was requested. Griffin and Bonsack dispatched additional officers to the disturbance call and continued monitoring the vehicle crash. Upon the arrival of additional on the scene of the disturbance call, officers’ notified dispatch that shots had been fired. Because of the seriousness of the two incidents happening at the same time, the Communications Center quickly became overwhelmed with radio traffic from firefighters and officers, as well as media inquires. Specialist Griffin and Bonsack worked diligently to ensure that firefighters and officers on both calls received the resources they needed, as well as to continue answering telephones calls, while making data entries in to the Department’s record management system to document both events. In recognition of their exceptional performance during critical and highly stressful events, Communication Specialists Griffn and Bonsack are awarded the Chief’s Commendation.
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Sergeant Dean Noll - In the summer of 2010, Sergeant Noll was assigned to the Kansas City Safe Haven Task Force. This task force was created to support an awareness campaign in the Kansas City region regarding the Safe Haven laws in both Kansas and Missouri and was part of a national effort with the same goal. As part of Sergeant Noll’s work on this initiative, the Riverside Public Safety was the first agency in the metro to implement the public outreach portion of the campaign and was one of the first agencies to have a comprehensive Safe Haven policy. As a result, Riverside was selected by the task force as a pilot city for the Safe Haven Public Awareness Program and is still used an example to other communities. Not only did Sergeant Noll’s work on the project further Riverside’s reputation as a community that is committed to being an active partner in the metro area, but it also brought much needed recognition to the Safe Haven Law. In recognition of outstanding contributions to the community that brought credit to himself and the Department, Sergeant Dean Noll is awarded the Chief’s Commendation Award.
Purple Heart Award
The Purple Heart Award is specifically granted to a member who has received a combat injury in the line of duty. Combat is defined as a line of duty situation that puts the member’s life or safety in harm’s way because of the member’s involvement with the situation. The member must have received medical attention for the injury.
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Firefighter Kevin Chrisman - On February 19, 2010, the Riverside Fire Department was sent out on a structure fire in the Indian Hills subdivision. When firefighters arrived on the scene, they observed a residential structure with its garage and front room fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters Kevin Chrisman and Adam Minard immediately went into action, working to save the residence, as it had already been determined that the residence was free of occupants. While fighting the fire, Chrisman who was on the nozzle, noticed a significant increase in radiant heat to his body, through his protective gear and after backing away from the structure, he further noticed damage to his protective coat. Later when Chrisman removed his protective coat and gloves, it became known that he had sustained second-degree burns to his shoulder and hand. Upon closer examination of Chrisman’s gear, it was noted that the gear had almost been damaged to the point of melting. In recognition of injuries sustained while fighting a fire, Firefighter Kevin Chrisman is awarded the Purple Heart.
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Master Patrolman Brent Holland - On September 10, 2010, Sgt VanLeeuwen, assisted by Master Patrolman Brent Holland, stopped a vehicle and made contact with a subject who was a suspect in a theft case and who also had a felony warrant for stealing in Platte County. While attempting to take the subject into custody, he became resistive and took off running. Pursued by Holland, the subject was finally taking into custody after Holland deployed his Taser, which immobilized the subject. Holland sustained significant injuries to his knee and arm. In recognition for injuries, he sustained during the arrest and detention of a burglary suspect with a felony warrant, Master Patrolman Brent Holland is awarded the Purple Heart.
Fire Award
The Firefighter Award is awarded specifically for a fire type of act. The award may be given for a significant contribution to the fire mission of the Department, superior performance over a period of time, or a specific fire act, which may not warrant the Award of Valor or the Distinguished Service Award.
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Firefighter Brian Main and Captain Scott Stubler - On March 18, 2010, the Riverside Fire Department responded on a call of a motor vehicle crash on the Fairfax Bridge. One of the victims had been partially ejected and was pinned between the vehicle and the bridge guardrail. In order to care for and coordinate the extrication of the victim, Firefighter Main and Captain Stubler were required to position themselves in a dangerous position outside the safety of the bridge’s guardrail, high above the banks of the Missouri River. Without regard for their own safety, Main and Stubler worked diligently to free the victim. In recognition of exceptional performance during a critical and highly technical incident and without regard to their own safety, Firefighter Brian Main and Captain Scott Stubler are awarded the Fireman’s Award.
Police Award
The Police award is awarded for a specific police type act. This award may be given for a significant contribution to the police mission or superior performance over a period. The Police Award is the third highest award that a member can receive. This award is presented to
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Patrolman Matthew Westrich
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Patrolman Dave Waite
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Detective Billy Aaron
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Sergeant Trevor Ballard
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Sergeant Dennis Jones
On March 18 2010, officers responded to a call of a subject creating a disturbance in a resident’s home, refusing to leave. Because patrol officers had already been dispatched to a vehicle accident involving injuries, Detectives Dennis Jones and Billy Aaron responded to the scene. While en route, responding officers were advised the subject had left the residence and was walking towards a wooded area northwest of the address.
As detectives canvassed the area for the subject, Det. Jones located the subject sitting in a ravine and immediately engaged the subject in conversation, trying to determine the seriousness of the situation. While Det. Jones communicated with the subject, the male produced a handgun and began gesturing with it as he talked. Det. Jones immediately began ordering the subject to drop his weapon, at which time Det. Aaron came up as a cover officer. At great risk to themselves and without regard to their own safety, Det. Jones and Aaron continued negotiating face to face with the subject in an attempt for the incident to come to a peaceful conclusion.
As other uniformed Riverside officers arrived (Waite, Ballard, and Westrich) taking up strategic positions of cover, the detectives continued negotiating with the subject. During this time of intense negotiation, the armed individual began making threatening motions with his handgun toward police personnel, forcing officers to respond to the threat.
When faced with an extremely dangerous and stressful situation, all officers were able to stay calm and rely on their training while trying to exhaust all peaceful avenues of resolution. Although officers are trained to be prepared for all types of calls, this inherently dangerous, highly volatile environment, required officers to put their own safety at risk protecting each other and the residents of Riverside.
In recognition of their selfless actions and unwavering bravery in the face of danger, Riverside Police Officers Matthew Westrich, Dave Waite, Billy Aaron, Trevor Ballard and Dennis Jones are awarded the Police Award.
Public Safety Member of the Year Awards
Each year, Department members submit their nominations for Police Officer, Firefighter, and Non-Sworn Employee of the Year Awards. Those who are nominated, in the eyes of their peers, consistently exceed the expectations of their routine duties within our organization and stand above what is considered average. Once submitted, these nominations are forwarded to a citizens committee for evaluation and final selection of the candidates. The following Department members were selected to receive this prestigious award.
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Police Division Member of the Year - Sergeant Jack Minor - Sergeant Minor is the senior sergeant assigned to road patrol operations. With this position comes great responsibility of not only supervising police officers but also helping to mentor, develop, and educate them for a successful future – in this he takes great pride. Sergeant Minor has proven time and again throughout the past year his ability to quickly and proficiently assess potentially volatile situations and bring them to a successful conclusion. Sergeant Minor is an asset to this organization and to the city that he continues to serve each day. It is for these reasons the Riverside Department of Public Safety recognizes Sergeant Jack Minor as our Police Division Member of the year.
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Fire Division Member of the Year - Firefighter Chris Clark - Firefighter Chris Clark is an exceptional employee who consistently shows his dedication and commitment to the mission of the Riverside Fire Department by going beyond the normal call of duty. Firefighter Clark consistently dedicates additional time and resources to assure that all fire related equipment is in full working condition and takes it upon himself to fix those items in need of repair thus reducing costs associated with sending the equipment out for service. Chris also dedicates time to other ancillary assignments such as the Police/Fire Athletic league where he commits time and gives back to the community in which he works. It is for these reasons the Riverside Department of Public Safety recognizes Firefighter Chris Clark as our Fire Division Member of the year.
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Non-Sworn Member of the Year - Communications Specialist Cari Terpening - Communications Specialist Cari Terpening has proven herself a dedicated professional within our organization. Excelling in her day-to-day duties, providing guidance, leadership, and establishing herself as a role model within the unit are just a few of her qualities. Cari goes beyond her call of duty to help others, provide dispatch training and assigned to the department’s tactical team as a tactical dispatcher. Recognized for all of her hard work and continued dedication to the organization and the community, the Riverside Department of Public Safety recognizes Cari Terpening as our Non-Sworn Member of the year.
