Five sworn in at Glendale City Hall

Gretchen Hoffman

Two civilians stood alongside two sergeants and a lieutenant in a

swearing-in ceremony at Glendale City Hall on Thursday, a first in

what Glendale Police Chief Russell Siverling said he hopes to make a

tradition.

The ceremony, which in the past has been held for sworn officers,

also celebrated the promotions of Custody Shift Supervisors Raymond

Cooley and Lupe Bilheimer -- both of whom are civilian employees of

the department.

Cooley and Bilheimer joined three department veterans: Sgts. Dave

Higgins and Tony Futia and Lt. Kim Lardie, who is the first woman to

hold the rank of lieutenant in the Glendale Police Department.

Another person promoted, Sgt. Louis Haloulakos, was not at the

badge-pinning ceremony.

“This is an important milestone in your lives, and it’s important

for the city,” Mayor Rafi Manoukian said.

Over the years, the promotees have been involved in almost every

aspect of the department.

Cooley, a former sergeant in the U.S. Army, received a divisional

award for his efforts in averting an inmate suicide attempt in the

Glendale Jail. Bilheimer often pitches in by translating Spanish.

Higgins’ assignments have included traffic, patrol training,

professional standards and vice narcotics, and Futia was a member of

the community policing team, the assaults division and the team that

investigated convicted killer Efren Saldivar.

“I’d like to thank my family for all their support over the

years,” Higgins said.

Lardie has authored legislation and been active in negotiating

benefits packages for the department.