FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Firefighter, Officer Win City Honors

Two of the city’s public safety professionals were recognized last week for their dedication, commitment and willingness to put their lives on the line.

Detective Jim Perry and firefighter Ron Chamberlain received top honors during the annual Police Officer and Firefighter of the Year Awards.

The luncheon was held by the Exchange Club of Fountain Valley and was attended by 148 people, including local elected officials.

Both men were selected by their peers and were given special accolades from nearly every organization and service group in the community.

“I consider it an honor and am very fortunate to have received it,” said Perry, 36, who joined the Police Department 12 years ago and has been an investigator for the past six years.

Chamberlain, 47, an engineer who began his career with the city 17 years ago, said: “It’s quite an honor. It’s like a second family at work.”

Perry investigates homicides and crimes against people and has been involved in some of the city’s most high-profile cases, including a double slaying in which a man killed his sister-in-law and a co-worker of hers at a local embroidery shop. The suspect in the case was taken into custody in Grand Junction, Colo.

Perry also investigated a shooting outside a Vietnamese coffeehouse in which one man was killed and two others were wounded. The investigation led to the arrest of two suspects.

“It’s challenging,” he said. “It’s nice to track down people and hold them accountable for hurting other people. You get a sense of justice.”

Police Capt. Bill DeNisi called Perry the “quintessential police officer,” who is well liked by his co-workers.

“He is the guy we give the most serious crimes to. He is so unbelievably thorough. If I was a crook, I’d hate to have Jim Perry after me,” DeNisi said.

Perry, a Riverside resident who is married with two daughters, has also served as president of the Fountain Valley Police Officers Assn.

Chamberlain, a Costa Mesa resident who is married and the father of two sons, said it is rewarding to serve the public and help people.

Since 1986, Chamberlain has been the Fire Department’s map maker. He updates grid maps that help firefighters respond quickly to emergency calls.

A map, he said, “makes us know right out of the station exactly where we are going and the best route to get there.”

Chamberlain’s co-workers described him as being a “ball of constant energy and one who gives 110% every day of the year.”

Fire Chief Bernard F. Heimos said being a firefighter of the year “means a whole lot more than a recognition of doing a really good job.”

“For someone to receive the recognition from their peers and chief officers is quite remarkable,” Heimos added. “The way Ron did it is he set his own personal standards a notch above what I think are already high standards.”