Emergency Workers Selected for Honors
Top emergency workers will be honored for their heroic feats at the 11th annual Community Protectors Awards luncheon today at the Universal Sheraton Hotel in Universal City.
Thirteen police officers, firefighters and paramedics will be recognized at the event, which was founded by Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mike Antonovich to honor emergency personnel serving the county and its municipalities for extraordinary and courageous acts.
“These men and women are truly heroes,” Bernson said. “The awards program was created so we could say ‘Thank you’ to them for their dedication and accomplishments.”
Among those attending the event will be Los Angeles Police Chief Willie L. Williams, Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block, Los Angeles Fire Chief William R. Bamattre, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Michael Freeman and California Highway Patrol Deputy Chief Edward W. Gomez.
The awardees were selected by their peers from their respective departments.
Recipients of the Community Protectors Awards are:
Forest Wilkins and Garry Couso-Vasquez of the LAPD, Alfred M. Arredondo and Marcia Lemmon of the CHP, Rafael Rodriguez and Susan Jaffe of the Los Angeles Fire Department, Thomas Sullivan and Louis Thomas of the Los Angeles County Fire Department and Stephanie Deason of the Manhattan Beach Police Department.
Other awardees are Mike Pla of the Whittier Police Department, Robert D’Ausilio of the Alhambra Police Department, John Gutierrez of the El Segundo Fire Department and Anthony Campbell of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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