CHP Honors the Top Hot-Car Cops

A group of law enforcement officers credited with recovering a total of 340 stolen vehicles in 1993 was honored by the California Highway Patrol Friday morning as the “top cops” in vehicle theft investigations.

The top officer from each of the 22 law enforcement agencies in Orange County was recognized at a special ceremony held at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, said CHP Officer Angel Johnson.

Santa Ana Police Officer Kevin Dedeaux, who was his department’s 1993 Rookie of the Year, was recognized as “the best of the best” for recovering 29 vehicles during the 12-month period, Johnson said.

During 1993, 20,214 vehicles were stolen in Orange County and 14,399 of those were recovered. As a group, the 22 officers honored Friday also arrested 178 suspected auto thieves.

Other officers recognized were: John Furbish, Anaheim; Roger Hall, Brea; Gregory Pelton, Buena Park; Bob Fate, Costa Mesa; Robert Cote, Cypress; Kenneth Hounsley, Fountain Valley; Michael Chlebowski, Fullerton; Vincent Purinton, Garden Grove; Dean Michael, Huntington Beach; Matt Mahoney, Irvine; Lou Gutierrez, Laguna Beach; Gonzalo Gallardo, La Palma; Brent Craft, Orange; Scott Audies, Placentia; Gary Krogman, Seal Beach; Tim Schmidt, Tustin; Bill Arganda, Westminster; Deputy Bud Hood, Sheriff’s Department; and Officers Todd Wise, Javad Mostoufi, and David Eisenbarth, respectively, of the CHP’s Capistrano, Santa Ana and Westminster areas.