IT IS DESIGNED FOR MID AND UPPER LEVEL POLICE EXECUTIVES, WHO ULTIMATELY WILL LEAD POLICE [00:00:04] AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES. AS THE MIPS CURRICULUM ADDRESSES THE ISSUES THAT DEMAND THE ATTENTION OF TODAY'S FORWARD THINKING LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS. CLASSES ARE HELD AT THE BOSTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW, WHERE PARTICIPANTS LEARN AND RESIDE IN THE UNIVERSITY'S CLASSROOMS AND RESIDENCE HALLS. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, LIEUTENANT GABRIEL WHALEN. ASSISTANT CHIEF CHAD DONOVAN ADMINISTRATION WAS AMONG THE 198 LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO GRADUATED FROM THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY IN QUANTICO, VIRGINIA. INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OFFERS TEN WEEKS OF ADVANCED COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND FITNESS TRAINING. PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE PROVEN RECORDS AS PROFESSIONALS WITHIN THEIR AGENCIES TO ATTEND. ON AVERAGE, THESE OFFICERS HAVE 21 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE AND USUALLY RETURN TO THEIR AGENCIES TO SERVE IN EXECUTIVE LEVEL POSITIONS. THE 288TH SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY CONSISTED OF MEN AND WOMEN FROM 45 STATES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE CLASS INCLUDED MEMBERS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES FROM 24 COUNTRIES FOR MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND SIX FEDERAL CIVILIAN ORGANIZATIONS. FBI ACADEMY INSTRUCTORS, SPECIAL AGENTS, AND OTHER STAFF WITH ADVANCED DEGREES PROVIDED THE TRAINING. MANY INSTRUCTORS ARE RECOGNIZED INTERNATIONALLY IN THEIR FIELDS SINCE 1972. NATIONAL ACADEMY STUDENTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EARN UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE CREDITS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, WHICH ACCREDITS MANY OF THE COURSES OFFERED. A TOTAL OF 54,763 GRADUATES HAVE COMPLETED THE FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY SINCE IT BEGAN IN 1935. THE NATIONAL ACADEMY IS HELD AT THE FBI TRAINING ACADEMY IN QUANTICO, THE SAME FACILITY WHERE THE FBI TRAINED ITS NEW AGENTS AND INTELLIGENCE ANALYST. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, ASSISTANT CHIEF CHAD DELLINGER. THE GOVERNOR. IT'S GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS, RIGHT? NEXT UP, WE HAVE A SPECIAL DA RECOGNITION. THIS IS FOR JOSEPH ORENDAIN. VANCE GONZALEZ, ROXANNE SALINAS. I WANT TO. ON OCTOBER 6TH, 2019, TROOPER MOISES SANCHEZ WAS SHOT IN THE LINE OF DUTY AND AFTER A VALIANT FIGHT, SUCCUMBED TO HIS INJURIES ON OCTOBER 20TH. AUGUST 24TH, 2019. IN JANUARY OF 2024, THE DEFENDANT WAS TRIED IN HIDALGO COUNTY DISTRICT COURT FOR CAPITAL MURDER. TROOPER MOISES SANCHEZ AN ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER OF TWO EDINBURG POLICE OFFICERS LED BY ONE OF THE MOST ESTEEMED PROSECUTORS IN HIDALGO COUNTY, JOSEPH ORENDAIN. THE PROSECUTION TEAM METICULOUSLY PRESENTED VOLUMES OF EVIDENCE OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL WEEKS. ON JANUARY 23RD, 2024. THE JURY FOUND THE DEFENDANT GUILTY OF CAPITAL MURDER AND TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER. ON JANUARY 31ST, THE JURY HANDED DOWN A DEATH SENTENCE FOR THE DEFENDANT'S CAPITAL MURDER CONVICTION AND LIFE SENTENCES FOR BOTH COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER. TODAY, THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RECOGNIZING THE LEAD PROSECUTOR, JOSEPH ORENDAIN, AND TWO ASSISTANT PROSECUTORS VANCE GONZALEZ AND ROXANA SALINAS FOR THEIR EXEMPLARY WORK IN THE SUCCESSFUL PROSECUTION OF THE DEFENDANT AND THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF JUSTICE. THE ENTIRE EDINBURG COMMUNITY IS GRATEFUL FOR THE COUNTLESS HOURS IN PREPARATION FOR THE TRIAL AND THE EFFECTIVE PROSECUTION OF THIS HIGH PROFILE CASE. JOSEPH RENE GONZALEZ. ROXANA SALINAS IN GENERAL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE A FEW SPECIAL PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE WITH US TODAY. THE CHIEF'S ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE HERE. SO PLEASE STAND WHEN YOUR NAME IS CALLED SO YOU CAN BE RECOGNIZED. LIEUTENANT ORLANDO GARCIA. ADVISORY BOARD CHAIRPERSON. SERGEANT JAIME RAMIREZ FROM THE PATROL DIVISION. SERGEANT JESUS GAITAN GAITAN FROM THE TOP DIVISION. INVESTIGATOR CLAUDIO VILLA, VALLEJO, CID. INVESTIGATOR DANIEL ARREDONDO, CID. OFFICER TRICIA WATTIGNY. PATROL. OFFICER EFRAIN MUNIZ, PATROL. [1. CALL TO ORDER, ESTABLISH QUORUM] OFFICER JOE VEGA, PATROL. TRAINING DIVISION. OFFICER FABIAN ZUNIGA. TRAINING DIVISION. ARTURO RINCON. [00:05:07] DETENTION SPECIALIST. SUPERVISOR. [A. Pledge of Allegiance.] AND BRENDA ALVARADO. DISPATCH. LET'S GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS THE CHIEF SUPERVISOR FOR TODAY. ALL RIGHT. NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE CHIEF'S COIN RECOGNITION. [2. CERTIFICATION OF PUBLIC NOTICE] RIGHT. HERE WE GO. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH DETECTIVE JOSEPH MONTOYA. DETECTIVE JAIME ORTIZ, DETECTIVE EFRAIN MARTINEZ, DETECTIVE ROBERTO ARIAS, CANINE JUAN VALDEZ, CANINE OMAR PACHECO. ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2023, THE DETECTIVES MENTIONED ABOVE [3. DISCLOSURE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST] MENTIONED ABOVE SET UP SURVEILLANCE, ENFORCEMENT, STONE GARDEN OPERATION, GROUND SURVEILLANCE WERE ABLE TO SPOT HUMAN SMUGGLERS ARRIVE IN A WHITE BMW WITH FOUR UNDOCUMENTED PERSONS. THE TEAM OBSERVED THE FOUR UPS GET OFF THE BMW AND INTO A GRAY TRACTOR TRUCK. SURVEILLANCE TEAM ALSO SPOTTED A GMC SUV IN THE PARKING LOT, [4. PUBLIC COMMENTS] WHICH APPEARED TO BE SCOUTING WITH K9 ON STANDBY. THEY WERE ABLE TO PULL OVER BOTH THE BMW AND THE GMC VEHICLES. THE SURVEILLANCE TEAM THEN APPREHENDED THE TRACTOR TRAILER AND DETAINED THE DRIVER AFTER HE SAID THERE WERE FOUR UPS IN HIS TRUCK. [5. PRESENTATION AND REPORT] [A. Presentation on Update of Capital Improvement Projects. [Mardoqueo Hinojosa, P.E., CFM, City] THE FOUR UPS WERE DEBRIEFED INDIVIDUALLY ON SCENE, AND THEY ADMITTED THEY WERE ILLEGALLY IN THE COUNTRY AND WERE SMUGGLED BY THE BMW DRIVER. ALL PARTIES WERE ARRESTED. TRACTOR TRAILER WAS SEIZED, VALUED AT $130,000, AND FORFEITURE PAPERWORK HAS BEEN SUBMITTED. IT'S ONLY THROUGH EXPERIENCE AND HARD WORK ETHIC THAT THESE OPERATIONS ARE SUCCESSFUL, THUS MAKING OUR CITY A SAFER PLACE FOR EVERYONE. EVERYONE NAMED IN THIS PLAYED A PART IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS CASE AND WENT BEYOND THEIR EVERYDAY USE. LET'S GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. LIEUTENANT GABRIEL VELA, K-9. OMAR PACHECO. LIEUTENANT VELA PULLED OVER A VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS OVERLY NERVOUS. K-9 PACHECO AND TINA WERE CALLED OUT TO SEARCH THE VEHICLE. INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THEY FOUND A VIAL OF LIQUID THC, ALONG WITH $10,330 IN CASH. THE DRIVER REPORTED THE MONEY BELONGED TO THE SMOKE SHOP HE WAS WORKING AT. FOLLOWING UP DAY FOLLOWED DAY, INVESTIGATORS OBTAINED A SEARCH WARRANT FOR THE SMOKE SHOP. INVESTIGATORS RECOVERED MORE DRUGS. EVIDENCE WAS RECOVERED THAT LEADS TO BELIEVE THE BUSINESS WAS INVOLVED IN MONEY LAUNDERING. FORFEITURES WERE FILED FOR THE SEIZED CASH. LIEUTENANT GABRIEL, K-9 PACHECO, CONGRATULATIONS. SERGEANT ADAM RODRIGUEZ, INVESTIGATOR ROBERTO REYES. OFFICER JACOB GUZMAN. OFFICER JACINTO FLORES. POLICE OFFICERS RESPOND TO A SUICIDAL MALE. UPON ARRIVAL, THE SUSPECT STOOD IN THE FRONT OF THE DOOR WITH A MACHETE IN HIS RIGHT HAND. SERGEANT RODRIGUEZ THEN POINTED HIS DUTY WEAPON AND ADVISE THE SUSPECT TO PUT HIS KNIFE DOWN. OFFICER ROBERT REYES ARRIVED AT THE LOCATION, DREW HIS TASER, AND DEFUZED THE SITUATION. OFFICERS JACOB GUZMAN AND JOSEPH FLORES HANDCUFFED THE SUSPECT AND TRANSPORTED HIM TO A LOCAL CLINIC. SUSPECT WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY. LET'S GIVE THIS GROUP A ROUND OF APPLAUSE AS WELL. SOME OF THESE GREAT STORIES OF THE WORK THAT'S DONE BY Y'ALL THAT NEVER MAKE IT ONTO THE NEWS, RIGHT. THE GREAT THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING. THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. LET'S GIVE THESE GUYS ONE MORE ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WELL DONE. NEXT UP IS INVESTIGATOR ROBERT REYES. INVESTIGATOR REYES WAS ASSIGNED TO WORK A CASE REGARDING THE ONLINE INVESTIGATION OF AN ADULT SOLICITING CHILD PORNOGRAPHY FROM A MINOR ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM OF SNAPCHAT. REYES REACHED OUT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND WORKED THE CASE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THEM. TOGETHER, THE APPREHENSION APPREHENSION OF THE MALE SUSPECT WAS MADE POSSIBLE AND LED TO A SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL PROSECUTION OF THE SUSPECT. FACING A MINIMUM OF A TEN YEAR SENTENCE. REYES IS A TREMENDOUS ASSET IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILD PREDATORS IN OUR AREA, INVESTIGATOR ROBERT REYES. THANK YOU. JONATHAN. THE EVIDENCE TECHNICIAN CREATED A NEW FORM TO CUT BACK WITH PREPARATION ON COUNTY AND DISTRICT COURT MOTIONS. THIS NEW FORM WAS REDUCED FROM FIVE PAGES TO ONE PAGE, WITH AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY OF ABOUT 400%. HE SPENT NUMEROUS HOURS OF HIS OWN TIME TO PERFECT THE FORM OR TO LOOK DOING BEYOND TO IMPROVE AND SPEED UP THE PROCESS OF PURGING UNNEEDED PROPERTY IN THE PROPERTY ROOM. JONATHAN HAWTHORNE. [00:10:06] CONGRATULATIONS. INVESTIGATOR JOSUE HERNANDEZ. OFFICER HERNANDEZ CONDUCTED A TRAFFIC STOP DURING THE COURSE OF THE STOP AND SUBSEQUENT FIELD INVESTIGATION. HERNANDEZ WAS ABLE TO LOCATE AND SEIZE ONE GRAM OF THC OIL, 46G OF METHAMPHETAMINE, 32G OF COCAINE, TEN GRAMS OF XANAX, TEN GRAMS OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, AND THREE AND A HALF HYDROCODONE AND ACETAMINOPHEN TABLETS AND $5,357 IN CURRENCY. ALL THIS WAS DONE THROUGH OFFICER HERNANDEZ DUE DILIGENCE AND RELENTLESS PASSION FOR POLICING. INVESTIGATORS SAY HERNANDEZ. NEXT, WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE MEDAL OF MERIT. THE MEDAL OF MERIT OMETTO GARCIA. MEDAL OF MERIT IS AWARDED TO A RECIPIENT FOR WORK PERFORMANCE THAT CLEARLY EXCEEDS STANDARD EXPECTATIONS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE SAME ASSIGNMENT, AND SUBSTANTIALLY BENEFITS THE CITY DEPARTMENT OR A DIVISION, OR SIGNIFICANTLY IMPROVED SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, OR EFFECTIVENESS OF ANY DIVISION. OFFICER GARCIA GARCIA HAS BEEN WITH THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, PROTECTING AND SERVING OUR CITIZENS AS A PATROL OFFICER FOR SIX YEARS. DURING HIS TENURE WITH OUR DEPARTMENT OFFICER, GARCIA HAS BECOME EXTREMELY PROFICIENT IN DWI ARREST PROCEDURES DURING THE ANNUAL MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING LAW ENFORCEMENT RECOGNITION BANQUET HELD ON JULY 27TH OF 2023. OFFICER ROMERO GARCIA RECEIVED THE MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING AWARD FOR HIS RELENTLESS DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT IN PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH HIS DILIGENCE AND OUTSTANDING RECORD OF DWI ARRESTS. ASIDE FROM THE VARIOUS CALLS FOR OTHER SERVICE OFFICER GARCIA RESPONDED TO THROUGHOUT 2023, HE ALSO MADE A TOTAL OF 41 DWI ARRESTS, WHICH CLEARLY EXCEEDED ALL EXPECTATIONS. ALTHOUGH IT'S DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE THE AMOUNT OF LIVES OFFICER GARCIA HAS SAVED THROUGH HIS HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT IN KEEPING OUR ROADWAYS SAFE HAS MADE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON OUR COMMUNITY. FOR THIS REASON, OFFICER GARCIA IS BEING AWARDED THE MEDAL OF MERIT. CONGRATULATIONS. CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT, WE'RE ON TO LIFE SAVING AWARDS. SERGEANT LEE RAMIREZ FOR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON AUGUST 7TH OF 2023, WHICH HE RESPONDED TO. THE EDINBURG VILLAGE APARTMENTS, LOCATED AT 701 SOUTH FOURTH AVENUE, EDINBURG, IN REFERENCE TO THREE MONTH OLD FEMALE INFANT WHO WAS UNRESPONSIVE. SERGEANT LIEBERMAN WAS THE FIRST TO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE AND BEGAN CPR ON THE INFANT, AND THE INFANT BEGAN TO BREATHE AGAIN. DUE TO SERGEANT LIEBERMAN'S ACTIONS, EMS TRANSPORTED THE INFANT TO EDMOND REGIONAL HOSPITAL OR TREATING. PHYSICIAN DOCTOR PALACIOS TOLD RESPONDING INVESTIGATORS THAT THE CPR PERFORMED BY SERGEANT LEE RAMIREZ CONTRIBUTED TO KEEPING THE INFANT ALIVE. A LIFE SAVING AWARD FOR SERGEANT LEE RAMIREZ. CONGRATULATIONS, OFFICER MARIO ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ FOR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON JULY THE 15TH OF 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 520, IN WHICH THE OFFICER RODRIGUEZ RESPONDED TO 805 NORTH FOSTER DRIVE IN EDINBURG IN RESPONSE TO AN UNRESPONSIVE ONE WEEK OLD INFANT. UPON ARRIVAL, OFFICER RODRIGUEZ NOTICED THE INFANT'S AIRWAY WAS OBSTRUCTED BY MUCUS AND PATTING THE INFANT'S BACK, WHICH CLEARED SOME OF THE OBSTRUCTION FOR THE INFANT'S AIRWAY, WHICH THE INFANT CAN BE HEARD ON THE BODY CAMERA BEGINNING TO CRY. OFFICER RODRIGUEZ CONTINUED TO ASSIST WITH THE CLEARING OF THE INFANT'S AIRWAVES UNTIL THE ARRIVAL OF THE EMS OFFICER, MARIO ALEJANDRO RODRIGUEZ. CONGRATULATIONS. INVESTOR INVESTOR DANIEL TORRES. SERGEANT CARLOS ROMERO FOR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 9TH OF 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:39 P.M., IN WHICH PATROL OFFICER DANIEL TORRES AND SERGEANT CARLOS ROMERO RESPONDED TO 815 SOUTH FOURTH AVENUE IN REFERENCE TO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ENGULFED IN FIRE. UPON ARRIVAL AT THE LOCATION, BOTH OFFICERS TORRES AND SERGEANT ROMERO OBSERVED THAT THE FIRE WAS SPREADING QUICKLY AND LEARNED THAT THERE WERE STILL TENANTS INSIDE APARTMENTS THREE AND FOUR. OFFICER TORRES AND SERGEANT ROMERO BREACHED BOTH APARTMENT DOORS AS THE FIRE WAS QUICKLY ENGULFING THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, AND WERE ABLE TO EVACUATE A 36 YEAR OLD MALE FROM APARTMENT THREE AND AN 85 YEAR OLD FEMALE FROM APARTMENT FOUR. THE 36 YEAR OLD MALE WAS UNAWARE OF THE FIRE DUE TO WEARING HEADPHONES DURING AN ONLINE COURSE. THE 86 YEAR OLD FEMALE WAS CARRIED OVER A SMALL WALL DUE TO THE ENTRANCE TO HER APARTMENT BEING ENGULFED IN FIRE. LIFE SAVING AWARDS INVESTIGATOR DANIEL TORRES AND SERGEANT CARLOS TORRES. OUR NEXT LIFE SAVING AWARD. OFFICER DANIELA GALVAN, OFFICER EDGAR PEREZ, OFFICER STEVE BLAKE. THIS IS FOR AN INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 15TH OF 2023 AT APPROXIMATELY 12:45 P.M., IN WHICH OFFICER DANIELA GALVAN, EDGAR PEREZ AND STEVE BLAKE RESPONDED TO THE [00:15:03] WALMART LOCATED AT 2812 SOUTH EXPRESSWAY 281, IN REFERENCE TO A FEMALE EMPLOYEE POSSIBLY EXPERIENCING A HEART ATTACK. UPON ARRIVAL, OFFICERS FOUND EMPLOYEE SONYA HERNANDEZ EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY BREATHING WHILE WAITING FOR AN AMBULANCE TO ARRIVE. OFFICERS THEN OBSERVED MISS HERNANDEZ STOP BREATHING AND LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS, IN WHICH THEY IMMEDIATELY BEGAN CPR, IN WHICH ALL OFFICERS TOOK TURNS PERFORMING CPR WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE AMBULANCE TO ARRIVE. AFTER THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED, OFFICER STEVE BLAKE AND DANIELA GALVAN RODE IN THE AMBULANCE AND ASSISTED EMS PERSONNEL WITH PROVIDING CHEST COMPRESSIONS UNTIL THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE DOCTOR'S HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM. UPON ARRIVAL AT DR. DANIELA, GALVAN POSITIONED HERSELF ON TOP OF THE GURNEY, CONTINUING TO PROVIDE CHEST COMPRESSIONS UNTIL SHE WAS RELIEVED BY HOSPITAL STAFF. WHERE HOSPITAL STAFF TOLD THE OFFICERS MR. HERNANDEZ HAD A DETECTABLE PULSE. OFFICER DANIEL GALVAN, OFFICER EDGAR PEREZ. OFFICER STEVE BLAKE, CONGRATULATIONS. NEXT UP IS THE MEDAL OF VALOR SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA, AN INVESTIGATOR JESSE MORENO. THE MEDAL OF VALOR IS AWARDED FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AND SIGNIFICANT RISK OF LIFE OR SERIOUS BODILY INJURY TO RECIPIENTS WHO DEMONSTRATED EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE BY PERFORMING A COURSE OF ACTION IN AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AS MANY MAY KNOW, THE SUSPECT FOUND GUILTY DURING STATE TROOPER MOISES SANCHEZ CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL WAS ALSO FOUND GUILTY OF TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER FOR DISCHARGING MULTIPLE ROUNDS FROM HIS FIREARM AT EDINBURG POLICE INVESTIGATORS JESSE MORENO AND EDWARD POLICE SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA AS HE ATTEMPTED TO EVADE ARREST DURING AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH OF THE AREA FOR THE SUSPECT THE NIGHT OF THE TRAGIC EVENT THAT OCCURRED APRIL 2019. INVESTIGATOR JESSE AND SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA WERE ABLE TO LOCATE A MALE SUSPECT MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT WALKING IN THE AREA OF THE 3600 BLOCK OF IDA STREET IN EDINBURGH. AS INVESTIGATOR JESSE MORENO AND SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA EXITED THEIR UNMARKED POLICE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SUSPECT, THE SUSPECT IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND WITH HIS FIREARM DRAWN AND FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS AT TAPIA. INVESTIGATORS JESSE MORENO, INVESTIGATOR MORENO WAS ABLE TO RETURN FIRE AS THE SUSPECT FLED THE AREA ON FOOT. SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA DREW HER WEAPON, BUT DID NOT RETURN FIRE DUE TO NOT HAVING A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SUSPECT. AS HE FLED THE AREA. THE SUSPECT RAN FROM THE SCENE, DISCARDED HIS FIREARM, AND WAS CAPTURED A SHORT TIME LATER BY RESPONDING OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES WHO ESTABLISHED A PERIMETER DURING THE INITIAL SEARCH FOR THE SUSPECT. INVESTIGATORS ESSER AND SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA ARE BEING RECOGNIZED AND AWARDED THE MEDAL OF VALOR FOR BRAVERY AND COURAGE THEY EXHIBITED DURING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN. CONGRATULATIONS ON FREE SPEECH. THANK YOU SIR. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOW WE'RE ON TO OUR ANNUAL AWARDS. WE'RE GOING TO START WITH SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR FOR ANNUAL AWARDS FOR SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR. THE NOMINEES FOR SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR ARE FROM THE JAIL DIVISION. ELIZABETH FUENTES FROM THE RECORDS DIVISION. JAVIER DE LEON, FROM THE TRAINING DIVISION. ELISA FIGUEROA FROM ADMINISTRATION. RIOS, FROM SPECIAL SERVICES. DELIA JARAMILLO AND FROM THE RECORDS DIVISION. HEATHER TREVINO. THOSE ARE OUR NOMINEES. AND GIVE THEM ALL A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHO NOMINATED KIMLEY-HORN? AND NOW OUR WINNER FOR THE SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR. JAVIER DE LEON. JAVIER JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN 2009 AND HAS SINCE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A CORNERSTONE OF THE TEAM. KNOWN FOR HIS UNWAVERING WORK ETHIC, DEDICATION AND METICULOUS ATTENTION TO DETAIL, HE HAS CONSISTENTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT. HIS TENURE HIGHLIGHTS A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE AND A WILLINGNESS TO GO BEYOND IN ALL TASKS ENTRUSTED TO HIM. JAVIER'S HARD WORK AND DEDICATION MAKE HIM AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE RECORDS DEPARTMENT, AND A ROLE MODEL FOR HIS COLLEAGUES. SUPPORT STAFF OF THE YEAR. LEON. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NOW, ROOKIE OF THE YEAR NOMINEES. WE HAVE THREE NOMINEES FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. FIRST IS JAVIER PONCE, ENRIQUE RODRIGUEZ, AND SAMMY BADILLO. THESE ARE OUR NOMINEES FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. GIVE ALL THREE OF THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. IT'S A BIG DEAL. COME ON. AND THE WINNER FOR ROOKIE OF THE YEAR, JAVIER PONCE. OFFICER, HAVE YOU JOINED THE FORCE IN 2022? [00:20:07] BRINGING WITH HIM A REPUTATION FOR PROFESSIONALISM, RESPECTFULNESS AND A CLEAR THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE. FROM THE OUTSET, PONCE DEMONSTRATED A RELENTLESS DEDICATION FOR HIS DUTIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE PURSUIT OF COMBATING DRUG OFFENSES AND DWI. DURING HIS PATROLS, HIS COMMITMENT TO ENFORCING THE LAW WITH DILIGENCE AND INTEGRITY QUICKLY GARNERED RECOGNITION AMONG HIS PEERS AND SUPERIORS, AND RECOGNITION OF HIS EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY. OFFICER PONCE WAS SELECTED TO BE PART OF THE NEWLY FORMED EDINBURG POLICE DWI ENFORCEMENT UNIT. THIS PRESTIGIOUS APPOINTMENT UNDERSCORES HIS SKILLS AND EXPERTISE IN HANDLING COMPLEX LAW ENFORCEMENT MATTERS, AND FURTHER SOLIDIFIES HIS POSITION AS A VALUABLE ASSET IN THE DEPARTMENT. WITH HIS PASSION FOR KEEPING THE COMMUNITY SAFE AND HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. OFFICER JAVIER PONCE CONTINUES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION IN ROOKIE OF THE YEAR. JAVIER SAID. CONGRATULATIONS. WELL DONE. ALL RIGHT. HERE ARE THE NOMINEES FOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR. OUR NOMINEES FOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR, OMAR PACHECO OLMEDO GARCIA, MARIA MASON, ESMERALDA LOPEZ AND DANIELA GALVAN. AND THE WINNER OF OFFICER OF THE YEAR IS MARIA MASON. OFFICER MARIA MASON EMBARKED ON A LAW ENFORCEMENT JOURNEY WITH THE DEPARTMENT IN 2000, MARKING THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WOULD BECOME A DISTINGUISHED CAREER SPANNING 23 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE. THROUGHOUT HER TENURE, MASON HAS CONSISTENTLY EXEMPLIFIED THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION TO HER DUTY. A TRUE LEADER WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, MASON HAS TAKEN ON THE ROLE OF MENTOR TO NUMEROUS NEW OFFICERS, IMPARTING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE CHALLENGES OF POLICE WORK. KNOWN FOR A UNIQUE BLEND OF STERNNESS AND COMPASSION, SHE BALANCES A FIRM HAND WITH GENUINE CONCERN FOR THE WELL-BEING OF HER COLLEAGUES AND THE COMMUNITY. DESPITE HER NUMEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, OFFICER MASON REMAINS HUMBLE AND UNASSUMING, NEVER SEEKING PRAISE OR RECOGNITION FOR HER CONTRIBUTIONS. INSTEAD, SHE REMAINS STEADFASTLY FOCUSED ON THE TASK, ENSURING THAT EVERY ASSIGNMENT IS EXECUTED WITH PRECISION AND EFFICIENCY, WITH AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO SERVICE AND HER SELFLESS DEDICATION TO HER FELLOW OFFICERS. OFFICER MASON CONTINUES TO SET A SHINING EXAMPLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT BEYOND YOUR OFFICER OF THE YEAR. RIGHT NOW, THE NOMINEES FOR A DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR. OUR NOMINEES FOR DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR ARE OMAR LONGORIA, ROGELIO SALINAS, DAVID ESCOBEDO, ARMANDO SALCEDO, ROBERTO REYES, AND ARTURO MONTEMAYOR. AND THE WINNER OF DETECTIVE OF THE YEAR, ARMANDO CALDERON. DETECTIVE SANDOVAL JOINED THE FORCE IN 2004, AND HAS SINCE ACCUMULATED NEARLY 20 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY. THROUGHOUT HIS TENURE, DETECTIVE SOLANO HAS PROVEN HIMSELF A VALUABLE ASSET TO THE DEPARTMENT, DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO HIS DUTIES AS AN EFFECTIVE TEAM MEMBER. A NATURAL BORN LEADER, DETECTIVE CELADON CONSISTENTLY GOES BEYOND. VOLUNTEERING HIS TIME AND EXPERTISE TO ASSIST OTHERS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS LED TO THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE RESOLUTION OF 112 ARREST CASES AND TAKING THE LEAD ON INVESTIGATING FIVE MAJOR CRASHES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF SIX CITIZENS FOR CITIZENS WITH SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES, FIVE INTOXICATION MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES AND THREE INTOXICATION ASSAULT CHARGES. ONE OF DETECTIVE SUTHERLAND'S MOST NOTABLE ATTRIBUTES IS HIS REMARKABLE ABILITY TO MAKE QUICK, ON THE SPOT INTELLIGENT DECISIONS, EVEN IN HIGH PRESSURE SITUATIONS. HIS KEEN INSTINCTS AND SHARP ANALYTICAL SKILLS HAVE EARNED HIM THE RESPECT AND ADMIRATION OF HIS PEERS, AS WELL AS THE REPUTATION FOR EXCELLENCE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT. WITH A PROVEN RECORD OF ACCOMPLISHMENT, OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE, AND A RELENTLESS DEDICATION TO UPHOLDING JUSTICE. DETECTIVE ARMANDO SALVADOR CONTINUES TO MAKE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY HE SERVES. DETECTIVE ARMANDO SALVADOR. HERE ARE THE NOMINEES. NEXT FOR CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR. OUR NOMINEES ARE ISIDRO OJEDA AND THE COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION AND ERIKA CANTU IN THE RECORDS DIVISION. THERE YOU GO. YEAH. OKAY. GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. WHY NOT? RIGHT. YES. AND OUR WINNER FOR CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, [00:25:01] ISIDRO. HELLO. YOU SEEM TO ENJOY THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT IN 2012 AS A DISPATCHER, QUICKLY ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A RELIABLE AND DEDICATED TEAM MEMBER. WHEN THE MANAGER FELL ILL, HONDA STEPPED INTO THE ROLE OF SUPERVISOR, DEMONSTRATING HIS ABILITY AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS. IN HIS ROLE, HE OVERSEES A TEAM OF 22 DISPATCHERS, ENSURING THE SMOOTH OPERATION OF THE ENTIRE DIVISION. KNOWN FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE, HONDA CONTINUOUSLY GOES BEYOND TO FULFILL HIS DUTIES. ONE OF HIS NOTABLE QUALITIES IS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO HANDLING MISTAKES. INSTEAD OF DWELLING ON ERRORS, HOW TO TURNS THEM INTO AN INVALUABLE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED. HE TAKES THE TIME TO COACH AND MENTOR HIS TEAM MEMBERS, HELPING THEM GROW BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY. HOW DOES DEDICATION TO HIS TEAM AND WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ON ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES MAKE HIM AN INVALUABLE ASSET TO THE COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT? HIS LEADERSHIP STYLE FOSTERS A POSITIVE AND SUPPORTIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT, ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEPARTMENT'S OVERALL SUCCESS. YOUR CIVILIAN SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR? YES. SIR. ALL RIGHT. HERE ARE THE NOMINEES FOR POLICE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR. LIEUTENANT REYNALDO REYES FROM THE PATROL DIVISION. LIEUTENANT PRIMITIVO RODRIGUEZ FROM THE PATROL DIVISION. SERGEANT MARIO RODRIGUEZ FROM THE PATROL DIVISION. SERGEANT CARLOS ROMERO FROM THE CID DIVISION. AND SERGEANT SANDRA TAPIA CID, JUVENILE DIVISION. AND THE WINNER FOR POLICE SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR, LIEUTENANT REYNALDO REYES. LIEUTENANT REYES JOINED THE FORCE IN 2011 AND SWIFTLY ROSE THROUGH THE RANKS. DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP QUALITIES AND COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE. PRIOR TO HIS OFFICIAL PROMOTION, REYES WAS SELECTED TO SERVE AS THE ACTING LIEUTENANT, WHERE HE WASTED NO TIME IMPLEMENTING POSITIVE CHANGES WITHIN THE PATROL DIVISION. REYES LEADERSHIP STYLE PRIORITIZES BOOSTING MORALE AND FOSTERING A CULTURE OF INNOVATION AND PROGRESS. HE ADVOCATED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF NEW EQUIPMENT AND SPEARHEADED INITIATIVES AIMED AT REDUCING AND COMBATING CRIME IN THE CITY. HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH AND WILLINGNESS TO EMBRACE NEW IDEAS HAVE HAD A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON ENHANCING PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY TRUST. IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTIES WITH THE DEPARTMENT, LIEUTENANT REYES ACTIVELY PARTICIPATES IN ASSISTING WITH STANDARDIZED FIELD SOBRIETY TESTS AT THE POLICE ACADEMY. THIS INVOLVEMENT UNDERSCORES HIS DEDICATION TO REDUCING DWI ARREST, CRASHES, AND FATALITIES IN THE CITY, FURTHER EXEMPLIFYING HIS COMMITMENT TO SERVING AND PROTECTING THE COMMUNITY. WITH HIS UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO EXCELLENCE AND HIS PROACTIVE APPROACH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT. LIEUTENANT REYNALDO REYES CONTINUES TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF THE CITY. HE SERVES ON THE REYES. ONCE AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS. YOU GET TWO, RIGHT? ALL RIGHT, NEXT UP, WE HAVE A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION. IT'S TIME TO MEET BRO. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW BRO ALREADY? WE'RE GOING TO MEET BRO. NOW HERE COMES BRO. UP HERE ON THE TV. MAYBE IT'S GONNA BE SOMEWHERE. WE'RE GONNA MEET HIM ON THE TV. OKAY? BRO IS A REMARKABLE CANINE WITH AN IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND. BORN 18 MONTHS AGO IN MEXICO, ROSE QUICKLY ESTABLISHED HIMSELF AS A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. THERE'S BRO WITHIN THE REALM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. TRAINED AS A DUAL PURPOSE CANINE, HE EXCELS IN BOTH NARCOTICS DETECTION AND PATROL DUTIES. BRUCE KEEN SENSE OF SMELL AND UNWAVERING DEDICATION MAKE HIM AN INVALUABLE ASSET IN DETECTING DETECTING ILLICIT SUBSTANCES. HIS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL NARCOTIC DOG ASSOCIATION ENSURE THAT HE MEETS THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFICIENCY IN HIS FIELD, WHETHER IT'S TRACKING DOWN SUSPECTS, CONDUCTING SEARCHES, OR SNIFFING OUT NARCOTICS. BREAUX BRIDGE APPROACHES EVERY TASK WITH ENTHUSIASM AND EFFICIENCY. HIS PARTNERSHIP WITH HIS HANDLER IS BUILT ON TRUST AND MUTUAL RESPECT, ALLOWING THEM TO WORK SEAMLESSLY TOGETHER TO UPHOLD LAW AND KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE. WITH HIS RELENTLESS DRIVE AND UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO DUTY, BREAUX SANDS IS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THE VITAL ROLE K-9 UNITS PLAY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT. THAT IS BREAUX. GIVE HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. THAT'S BRO. ALL RIGHT. NOW, IF YOU WERE NOMINATED OR RECEIVED AN AWARD, WE'D LIKE YOU TO STOP BY AND SEE ROY WITH YOUR GIFT ON THE WAY OUT AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. AND LET'S WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE. THE CHIEF. THE CHIEF IS BACK. YES. I'M BACK. SO ROY'S OVER TO THE SIDE. IF YOU ARE A NOMINEE TO GO GET YOUR GIFT. I JUST WANT TO EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT WHY HE'S NOT HERE. HIS HANDLER DIDN'T WANT TO EXPOSE HIM TO TOO MANY PEOPLE BECAUSE HE'S READY TO GO YOUNG. HE GOT BACK FROM FOUR WEEKS OF TRAINING, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT HAVING BRO. WE'RE GOING TO ROLL OUT A SOCIAL MEDIA ADVERTISEMENT ABOUT THE NEW THE NEW CANINE. TODAY, ROSCOE RETIRED, BUT I TOOK THE MIC BECAUSE, TIM, IF YOU'LL COME BACK UP HERE, TIM, TIM HAS DONE A NUMBER OF EVENTS FOR US, AND I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW AWESOME WHAT YOU ALL SEE, [00:30:02] HOW AWESOME HE IS AND HOW AWESOME HE DOES. AND HE'S ALSO AN EDITOR OF HOMETOWN HERO. AND SO I WANT TO PRESENT YOU. WITH OUR OTHER COMMEMORATIVE BADGE. AND YOU CAN PUT THAT ON THE AIR TONIGHT AS YOU'RE DOING A WEBINAR. SO NO PRESSURE. OR ANYTHING TODAY. AND I HAVE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO REMEMBER. AND THEN THE CHIEF'S ACHIEVED RECOGNITION THAT ALSO REPRESENTS YOU. SO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FOR THE COMMUNITY. YOU'RE ALWAYS ACTIVE, AND WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING A PARTNER OF THE CITY WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SENATOR. AWESOME. MAYBE WE CAN PUT THAT PICTURE ON THE SIX AND 10:00 ALSO. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY. AS WE HONOR OUR AMAZING SECOND TO NONE OFFICERS HERE IN THE EDINBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT, SPECIAL THANKS TO CHIEF AYALA FOR FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AGAIN. HE STARTED IT LAST YEAR. I LOVE IT. AND I HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE A CONTINUED TRADITION IN OUR CITY. ALSO, THANKS TO REGION ONE DOCTOR KING AND HIS STAFF FOR THEIR PARTNERSHIP AND ALLOWING US TO HAVE IT HERE, THE EDINBURG UNITED POLICE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR DONATION OF DESSERTS TODAY, AND ALSO THE EDINBURG POLICE ORGANIZATION FOR THEIR GENEROUS DONATION. WE THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT AND WE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY. HONOREES, PLEASE, IF YOU'RE HERE, DON'T LEAVE QUITE YET. WE'D LOVE YOU TO COME BACK ON STAGE AND TAKE SOME PHOTOS WITH OUR AMAZING EDINBURG CITY COUNCIL. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE WORST THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN WHILE YOU'RE DRIVING IS THIS. SCIENTISTS CALL IT A MICROSCOPE. A PROBLEM WHEN YOU START TO GET DROWSY. THERE'S NO WAY TO KNOW WHEN YOU'LL SLIP INTO ONE OF THESE MICROSCOPES. BIGGER PROBLEM AT 70MPH. YOU TRAVEL OVER 100FT EVERY SECOND. SO IF YOU NOD OFF FOR EVEN A FRACTION OF A SECOND, YOU COULD END UP HERE OR HERE OR HERE. SO DON'T IGNORE THE EARLY WARNING SIGNS WHEN THEY START. IT'S TIME TO STOP. REVIVE. SURVIVE. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.