SANTA ANA : 10 Police Assn. Members Get Service Awards

Ten officers and employees of the city’s Police Department were honored for outstanding service at the Santa Ana Police Officers Assn.’s 29th annual awards banquet.

The award nominations and selections were made by a vote of the association’s 500 members, a peer selection process that makes the honor especially meaningful, said Don Blankenship, association president.

“It’s the only award in the city like that, where the folks that are right out there are the ones that make the decision,” he said. The awards, given by rank and job classification, were presented Saturday night.

The award recipients were;

* Ernie Conde, officer of the year;

* George Koptich, sergeant of the year;

* Sonny Coberly, corporal of the year;

* Benny Rodriguez, investigator of the year;

* Jim Bray, reserve officer of the year;

* Mary Castillo, detention officer of the year;

* Cynthia Larkins, civilian support member of the year;

* Sherrie Cullings, communications personnel member of the year;

* Eric Rimat, field support officer of the year;

* Linda Faust, non-sworn support member of the year.