Honoring Our Local Heroes

Description

The 20^th annual recognition for our Local Heroes will be on Friday, December 15. An early breakfast beginning at 7:00am will be followed by recognition and appreciation for our Police and Firefighters, submitted by their respective departments / agencies. The Corona Chamber realizes how fortunate we are to have public safety professionals working day in and day out protecting our community.

There are three categories for each department to submit honorees in: Peer Recognition, Distinguished Service, and Community Service.

Corona Fire Peer Recognition

Fire Captain Alex Villa is being awarded the Corona Fire Peer Recognition award. Alex is receiving this award for his commitment, passion and dedication to the Corona Fire Department and the community we serve.

As a Fire Captain at Station 3, Alex is responsible for not only the crew of his engine company, but the crew of the rescue squad as well. While Alex could stop there and still be a valuable member of our organization, he chooses to do more. He understands that the success of our organization depends on the commitment of its members.

One of the most significant contributions that Alex makes is his assignment to the department’s Personal Protective Equipment Program Manager. The PPE Program Manager is responsible for the budgeting, purchasing, issuing and maintaining the complete PPE ensemble for all of our personnel. While he does have the help and support from a few firefighters, Alex is the driving force behind this obviously important and necessary program.

Next, but no less important, is Alex’s involvement in the Corona Firefighters Association (CFA).  Alex is a current board member and takes on the added responsibility of being the Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer position is a thankless job, and is one that requires a tremendous amount of time. We’re not sure how Alex does it, but by all accounts, he is doing a fantastic job managing the CFA’s finances, and as proof of that, he was recently elected for another three-year term.

Additionally, Alex is an instructor in our Recruit Academy, he is an active member of the Department’s Training Committee, and he is one of our Background Investigators.

Added to all of Alex’s involvement in the fire department and our community is his family. Alex is married and has two children. If you were to ask them, we’re sure they would agree that Alex is committed, dedicated, and passionate about the Corona Fire Department and the community we serve. Alex is, without a doubt, a key part of the Corona Fire Department’s success, and for this, he has earned this great honor.
 
Corona Police Peer Recognition

Officer Sal Cisneros has been with the Corona Police Department for over twelve years and is currently assigned as the School Resource Officer for Lee V. Pollard and Orange Grove High Schools. He has also held a variety of special assignments, including as Personnel and Training Officer and Field Training Officer. Prior to joining the Corona Police Department family, Officer Cisneros was enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, then started his law enforcement career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. In 2010, the Cisneros family faced a crucial obstacle when Officer Cisneros was diagnosed with B-cell Lymphoma. Since then, Sal became the CPD Team Captain for the Relay for Life fundraiser for the American Cancer Society.  It has been seven years since Sal was diagnosed, and he stands here today as a cancer survivor and a protector of our community.

The Corona Police Officers’ Association has nominated Officer Salvador “Sal” Cisneros as the Peer Recognition Honoree.  
 
Corona Fire Distinguished Service

Captain Sean Harmon and Fire Apparatus Engineer Dan Fagan are being awarded the Corona Fire Distinguished Service award for their bravery and lifesaving actions. On Wednesday, August 10, 2016, Dan Fagan and Sean Harmon were off duty and driving westbound on the 105 freeway toward El Segundo. They came across a solo vehicle rollover. The driver was trapped. The adult male had a major head injury and fracture to his right arm. There was a severe arterial bleed from his injured arm. Gasoline was leaking from the overturned vehicle, and without any extrication tools, there was no way Dan and Sean could free the critically injured driver. Risking personal injury, Dan applied direct pressure to the wound from the passenger window. Sean climbed in the back seat of the wreckage, removed his belt, and used it as a tourniquet to control the bleeding. Several minutes later, LA City Fire arrived and extricated the patient with the Jaws of Life. Due to the courage and decisive actions of Fagan and Harmon, the injured driver was likely to survive.
 
Corona Police Distinguished Service

Sgt. Brad Voorhees was the lead detective for the Sharmon Intili homicide that occurred on November 23, 2016. This investigation has been extremely labor intensive and has been a collaborative effort by numerous detectives, personnel assigned to the Investigative Services Division, and outside law enforcement agencies. 
 
Sgt. Voorhees led the investigation by gathering and evaluating all the evidence. Sgt. Voorhees then presented his findings to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.  The case has not only required numerous warrants and countless reports, but the utilization of allied agencies including the FBI, Riverside PD, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, and the California Department of Justice. Sgt. Voorhees has drawn upon his knowledge and experience as a seasoned homicide investigator and his investigative expertise to put together a case for the District Attorney’s Office that was predominantly supported by circumstantial evidence.
 
Sgt. Voorhees had to answer endless calls from the victim’s family as to why the suspect had not been arrested. He reassured them that he was continuously following-up on leads and scientific evidence that may solve the case. Sgt. Voorhees takes great pride in his work, and the inability to initially put together enough evidence to charge the suspect had an effect on him. Sgt. Voorhees and the entire Detective Bureau continued their relentless investigation which culminated in the arrest of Mark Brierley on June 15, 2017. 
 
Sgt. Voorhees’ leadership traits of being a TEAM PLAYER and an EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATOR have been evident during this process. The District Attorney’s Office has complemented Sgt. Voorhees and Corona PD on several occasions for the thoroughness and diligence in investigating the Sharmon Intili homicide. Sgt. Voorhees is commended for his leadership throughout this homicide investigation.
 
Community Service Award

Firefighter Paramedic Dan Khalili is being awarded for this year’s Community Service Award. Dan’s compassion and leadership has touched two young lives in the last year. He began his journey in the Big Brother program in 2009, and has grown very close to Carlos Samoya, whom he still mentors today. Over the last year, he used his physical strength to raise almost $7,500 for a local boy by the name Tayvin Sheridan. Dan started a “GoFundMe” page and ran an Iron Man in his honor. The money he raised assisted Tayvin and his family to pay for ear reconstruction surgery. Dan is an excellent paramedic, showing compassion to every patient he treats. His caring attitude and willingness to help others is an inspiration for all of us and the community we serve.
 
Corona Police Community Service Award

On August 25, 2017, Officer Gutierrez attended a neighborhood watch meeting within his zone (301 S. Buena Vista Ave). During this meeting, the tenants of the apartment complex complained of crimes occurring within their complex between the hours of 1:00 – 3:00 AM. That same night, Office Gutierrez took the time to arrange a foot patrol in the complex. He located a suspicious male who ran when Officer Gutierrez tried to speak with him. The subject immediately threw a handgun onto the ground, but Officer Gutierrez continued to chase him, eventually apprehending him in the 400 block of Buena Vista. The suspect had a second firearm on him at the time of arrest! Officer Gutierrez is commended for acknowledging the citizens while at their meeting and utilizing the information they provided to resolve an ongoing community issue.
 
In addition, Officer Gutierrez is a lead advisor for the local Explorer Post. He mentors and trains the young community members who aspire to work in Law Enforcement, and has done so for many years. Most recently, in July, Officer Gutierrez worked endlessly to ensure the success of the 7^th Annual Explorer Academy. 
 
Officer Gutierrez is commended for his outstanding efforts and his steadfast commitment to the community. 
 
Those interested in attending the ceremony can log on to MyChamber.org or call 951.737.3350. Sponsorships are available beginning at $250 and up. Individual pricing is $35 for members and $45 for visitors, with a savings of $10 if purchased by December 1.
 


Good Morning Corona is a monthly networking breakfast meeting dedicated to keeping businesses up to date and informed on topics of interest.

Networking breakfast
Self-Introductions
Motivational speakers
Door Prizes