A Prescott Valley Police officer who began his career with the department as a youth Explorer in 2006, on Friday night accepted the honor of Officer of the Year.
Kyle Hader became an intern with the Prescott Valley Police in 2010, but a hiring freeze during the recession kept him from being hired. He accepted a position as an unpaid reserve officer and completed the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy in Prescott Valley.
After graduating NARTA and completing a 12-week field training program, Hader worked shifts as a reserve officer until the hiring freeze was lifted in 2011 and he was hired full time.
Hader was honored on Friday for his dedication to taking impaired drivers off the streets. He is certified in the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) program and is a certified Drug Recognition Expert. He soon will attend phlebotomy school to improve his abilities to detect and arrest impaired drivers.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving honored Hader as its DUI Officer of the Year in 2013. During the year, Hader took 299 reports that included 40 crashes and 49 DUI investigations, he wrote 713 traffic citations and warnings, and made 133 arrests, the most in the patrol division. Hader also is a SWAT team member.
Among his accomplishments are several commendations from citizens for his efforts in their cases, his participation in community events, his work in obtaining needed equipment for the SWAT team, his proficiency and knowledge of his job, help with animal control calls, and proactive work on patrol.
During the evening, Police Chief Bryan Jarrell, and Cmdrs. Art Askew and James Edelstein handed out other significant yearly honors.
Officer Scott Rudolph was awarded Rookie of the Year. He began his employment with Prescott Valley Police in 2011 as a civilian employee before attending NARTA in Dec. 2012. He began his patrol career in March, 2013.
Rudolph received numerous commendations from other officers, his supervisors and the County Attorney’s Office for the effort and hard work he puts into his investigations. He is known for his quality and in-depth reports, and for going the extra mile “every time.”
He also is noted for being motivated, prepared, professional and willing to assist his fellow officers, an example of professionalism and dedication to his career.
Police Unit of the Year is the Field Training Officer Unit, honored for its efforts and dedication in training and mentoring recruits and new hires, with as many as 9 new officers coming out of the academy at the same time.
The Community Policing Award was given to Officer Joe McCamish, for his passion for the safety, security and welfare of the community’s children. McCamish, a former Green Beret Army Special Forces soldier, created a SWAT School Safety Program, which provides specialized training and response plans for each school in the Humboldt School District.
McCamish also created training for officer response to hostile takeovers, which every Prescott Valley officer attends. He advocated for daily school checks on each school and child care in Prescott Valley, participated in policing for community events, and volunteered for community food drive and other activities.
Civilian of the Year is Christy Awtrey-Tieman, who was honored for her excellence in supervising the Prescott Valley Police records department. She is known as a happy and caring person who is willing to find solutions, inspire teamwork, and build relationships, all of which have increased the efficiency and effectiveness of the department.
Volunteer of the Year is Sherwin White, who gives of his time in the Criminal Investigations Section, Volunteers in Policing and other areas. He reviews and assigns cases to investigators, dedicating two to three days each week to investigations. A VIP for six years, White is known for being reliable and dedicated.
Many volunteers serve with the Prescott Valley Police, and the department this year also posthumously recognized volunteer, community baseball coach and umpire Jeff Cook, who passed away on Dec. 15, 2013.
Cook was honored for his nearly two years of service as a police volunteer, in which he handled varied patrol duties, assisted at traffic accidents, helped stranded motorists, and otherwise supported officers. He was known for his dedication, work ethic, and friendships.
Cook’s wife Debra accepted a Police Chief’s Commendation on his behalf.
Chief Jarrell also commended Det. Ed Bills, Danny Oen, Matt Williams and Evidence Technician John Riley for their investigation that lead to the arrest of a former local charter school student who made detailed, serious threats against the school and already had obtained some materials to carry them out. The men were honored for their quick, efficient and professional work that averted what could have been a tragedy in the community.
Det. James Tobin recognized recently retired Lt. Wayne Nelson for his 25 years of service with a Prescott Valley Police Officer’s Association award, and Chief Jarrell awarded Nelson his retirement badge.
Three lifesaving honors were given during the evening, three of which involved Cpl. Shawn Caswell.
Caswell, Cpl. Keven O’Hagan, Officer Matt Williams, and former VIP John DeBartolo, rescued one of the victims of a June 2011 fatal rollover accident on Glassford Hill Road. The officers, with the help of unidentified bystanders, physically lifted a vehicle until firefighters could stabilize it and treat the victim. Their efforts were credited for saving the man’s life. He was later able to meet and thank them.
On June 18, 2013, Caswell was conducting speed enforcement on Navajo Drive when he saw an import car traveling at high speed. The driver crashed and was pinned in his vehicle, which caught on fire. Caswell tried to rescue the driver, but he couldn’t free him from the burning car. He used his fire extinguisher to keep the car from becoming fully engulfed in flames until firefighters arrived and extricated the driver.
On Sept. 26, 2013, Caswell, Sgt. Mark Postula, Officer Michael Barriga, and Officer Randy Busby were dispatched to a called involving a man trapped under a vehicle. The officers arrived within two and half minutes and found a man pinned under a car. He was not moving, and the car was resting on his chest area, cutting off his air. All four officers lifted the vehicle to take the weight off the man’s chest, and an arriving firefighter then was able to pull him safely from under the car. Once he regained his breath, the man refused further treatment, and was walking without complications.
Chief Jarrell thanked his entire department, noting that “to honor certain individuals within our profession is rather ironic because … every day they choose to do a job that carries the potential that they may die or be seriously injured. Yet every day men and women in law enforcement do just that.
“‘Hero’ in Greek mythology is ‘someone who, in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, displays courage and the will for self-sacrifice for some greater good.’
“All of you are heroes,” Jarrell said.
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