Beverly Hills : Officers Receive Honors

The city honored some of its top police officers and firefighters at a ceremony last week, giving awards to the officer who apprehended the notorious “Rolex bandits” and to the detectives who investigated the slaying of film executive Jose Menendez and his wife, Kitty.

Police Officer Sammy Lee received the meritorious service award for arresting two men who allegedly masterminded Rolex robberies during 1989 and 1990. The thieves, who held up numerous Westside residents at gunpoint during the crime spree, were arrested by Lee after a high-speed chase in Beverly Hills last year.

Detectives Leslie Zoeller and Thomas Linehan won outstanding police service awards for their investigation into the 1989 Menendez murder case. They were commended for tracking down numerous leads that ultimately led to Lyle and Erik Menendez being charged in the murder of their parents.

In addition, Detective Paul Edholm was cited for exemplary police work for his role in several forgery cases. Judy Owens, a senior communications technician with the department, won a distinguished service award for her role in the city’s emergency response network. Firefighter Bruce Lessing also received an award for outstanding service in the line of duty.