VENTURA : Officer and Civilian Among Honorees

A traffic officer who recovered $100,000 in overdue fines, a bystander who foiled a robbery attempt and a volunteer who compiled records on gang members were among those honored by the Ventura Police Department.

Cpl. John Turner, 35, was named the department’s Officer of the Year in a lunchtime ceremony at Ventura City Hall Thursday. Turner, a 13-year veteran officer, investigates all traffic accidents in Ventura. Last year he also designed a new parking citation system and another program for recovering revenue from delinquent parking tickets.

“John is a problem-solver, not afraid to take on complicated or unpopular issues, and he develops innovative, thoughtful solutions,” Police Chief Richard Thomas said.

The department’s Volunteer of the Year award went to Ralph Bonswor of Ventura, who has contributed his time the past four years to the department’s Crime Analysis Unit. He is credited with single-handedly creating files on 1,400 gang members and their associates, which has been instrumental in obtaining convictions.

Eric Dittman, a 22-year-old employee of United Parcel Service, received a Certificate of Excellence for his intervention in an attempted robbery of a bank customer in February.

Also awarded a Certificate of Excellence were Dave Spooner and Brent Stronge of Motorola, who arrived at the Police/Fire Communications Center the morning of the Jan. 17 earthquake. The pair provided a generator for emergency telephone service.

Among others honored Thursday were Communications Supervisor Mary Walker and Office Aide Matt Romo, who received Chief’s Shirt Awards; Police Services Officer Lynette Lightfoot, the Support Employee of the Year; Sgt. George Morris, Supervisor of the Year, and Police Services Officer Graham Jeffrey, the Lightbulb Award.