Four Cops Honored for 25 Years’ Service

Four police officers were honored this week for 25 years of service in the city.

Investigator Al Butler, Investigator Bill Johnson, Lt. Bill Dalton and Sgt. Ken Whitley were recognized by the City Council for “attaining distinguished careers” in the 25 years that each has been with the Police Department.

Butler is an expert in Asian gang crime and established the department’s first gang unit, at Bolsa Mini Mall. Johnson, who started in the department the same day as Butler, has expertise in undercover work and is the department’s criminal intelligence investigator.

Dalton became the department’s first master officer and was one of the few to be promoted to sergeant directly from patrol. Whitley is a narcotics expert who teaches and lectures across the state and has coauthored a detailed drug identification manual.

“Each of the four officers has contributed significantly to the overall success of the department,” Police Chief Stan Knee said. “It’s somewhat unusual for a department this size to have four 25-year veterans . . . who have done so much for the citizens.”