Rotary Club Honors Culver City Police and Fire Personnel

The 4th Annual Police and Fire Bravo Awards with the Police Department and the 1st year for the Fire Department were held at the DoubleTree Hotel on March 14. The Culver City Rotary and Exchange Clubs were pleased and proud to have the police, firefighters and paramedics be recognized for their outstanding service to the community.

The honorees have been selected for their dedication, bravery and loyal service to Culver City by Police Chief Scott Bixby and Fire Chief David White.

Fire Department Employee of the Year Kyomi Dean was selected as the outstanding non-safety member by the fire chief. "Kyomi is hard working," stated Chief White, "and is exceptionally good at her job."

The Career Service Award was presented to Assistant Fire Marshal Mike McCormick for over 3 decades of service in a number of responsibilities to Culver City with distinction and excellence.

Paramedic of the Year was selected by the city's medical director, nurse educator and EMS Division Manager. Firefighter/Paramedic Nick Temple has a high level of technical competence, a caring bedside manner and a positive influence on his fellow team members.

Assist Police Chief Ronald Iizuka presented five police recognitions. Sergeant Dan Sukal has been a sergeant in 2012 after serving in a number of assignments. He is currently assigned to the Personnel and Training section.

Officer Jeffrey Park works patrol and with the Department's Special Enforcement Team where officers deploy high visibility by bike, vehicle and foot patrols. Officer Park also serves as a member of the Department's Partnerships in Policing Team and the firearms range staff.

Community Service Office Maegan Billington grew up in Culver City attending local schools. Assigned to the Operations Bureau she assists with reports and call taking along with Live Scan fingerprinting. "Maegan was recently commended by the City Council," stated Assistant Chief Ronald Lizuka, "for her high level of service showing compassion with members of the Culver City community."

Working for the Culver City Police Department for nine years, Parking Enforcement Officer Michelle Mendoza started as a Community Service Officer and was promoted to parking enforcement. She is married to Culver City Police Officer Victor Garcia. Officer Michelle graduated from Cal State LA in 2009.

Volunteer in Patrol Carol Kramer has been very active with the police department for three years. She diligently, faithfully and unselfishly volunteers her time to serve the people of the community and help the department to function more efficiently. Carol is affectionately known as "Captain Kramer" by the officers and staff. "Captain Kramer" exemplifies the meaning of community partnerships.

A $1,000 scholarship of $500 from the Culver City Rotary Club and $500 from the Culver City Exchange Club is being presented for the first time in 2018.

Selected by the mentors and trainers of the Police Explorers the recipient of the scholarship is Matheus Dos Santos. Matheus is a Culver City resident, graduating from CCHS in 2017. He is currently a Drill Instructor at the El Camino

College Explorer Academy. He attends Santa Monica College as a Political Science major. Congratulations to Matheus Dos Santos!

Sponsors and donors to the event included members of both the Culver City Rotary and the Exchange Clubs hosting the honorees and their guests. Gus Rendon, CPA, Lasker Kim & Co. sponsored a table of 10 honorees. Janice Beighey and Tower Insurance provided gift certificates to each honoree. Other donors included the Culver Hotel and Sorrento's. Many others provided other gift certificates and gifts. Culver City Rotary and Exchange Club members are very supportive of the outstanding service provided by the Culver City Police and Fire Departments.

The annual lunch was very inspirational and gave us even greater confidence and increased our efforts to support in the Culver City Police and Fire Departments.