The Brea Police Department honored its deserving officers and staff at the annual awards dinner on Feb. 26 at The Brea Improv.
There were 140 guests, including Rep. Young Kim, Orange County Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffe, Brea Mayor Cecilia Hupp and councilmembers Blair Stewart, Steve Vargas and Marty Simonoff.
The department honored 25 police officers and three dispatchers for feats that went far beyond their usual call of duty. Some officers were honored for two or more outstanding incidents, but how were they selected?
The department’s award committee selected the honorees, said Lt. Christopher Haddad of the professional standards unit. The committee looks at notable incidents and determines if they are award worthy. Haddad added that the employees could also submit nominations to the committee.
So what did they do that was award worthy? A lot.
Officer Connor Spencer and Detective Macy Sanchez were each honored for saving the life of a man who collapsed at work from a heart attack. Both officers performed CPR until the Fire Department arrived.
Officer Madison Bashta was honored for preventing an attempted kidnapping. Sgt. David Mendez and officers Brandon Cross, Dylan Harris, Josh Ordonez and Joseph Miraglia were honored for preventing attempted murders.
Detective Macy Sanchez and Officer Justine Chevalier were commended for saving a man from drowning in a pool by both jumping in to rescue him, and starting CPR.
We also learned about two individuals whose death from fentanyl resulted in the supplier receiving a jail sentence, thanks to the work of Brea PD officers.
Commendations for homicide investigation were awarded to Sgt. Ryan Mc Duffy, Sgt. Richard Wildman, Sgt. Alfons Kunze, Cpl. Miguel Ojeda, Officer Dylan Harris, Officer Anguello Villa Vela and Officer Matthew Wendling and Dispatcher Samantha Hunziker and Dispatcher Lauren Crittenden.
Twelve officers received commendations for their work as certified instructors in the Field Training Officer Program that gives ongoing training to officers and to police recruits transiting from the police academy to patrol duty.
Those 12 officers are Lt. Chris Harvey, Sgt. Eric Frank, Sgt. Ryan Mc Duffy, Cpl. Brandon Cross, Cpl. Alfred Rodriguez, Cpl. Steven Wulff, Capt. Miguel Ojeda, Officer Connor Spencer, Officer Nathan Fernandez, Officer Ryan Cardenas, Officer LaMarr Tinnin and Officer Anahi Kawili.
Dispatcher Nancy Ertle also received a commendation for putting much effort into reuniting a dog with its owner.
The Brea Police Association also presented awards. Officer of the Year was Jose Cantoran, who made 100 DUI arrests in 2025. Other awardees from the BPA were Investigator of the Year Detective David Kang and Support Services Officer of the Year Officer Mike Janetzke.
And the Volunteer of the Year went to VIP Mohamed Somji.
The Brea PD has held these award events for more than 30 years, said Haddad.
Sponsors and donations pay for these award events. So there are no worries that our tax dollars are footing the bill for places like The Improv.
This year’s awards dinner was primarily sponsored by Dwight Manley, the presenting sponsor. The table sponsors were Alex Horowitz and the Brea Mall, while the event sponsors were Pro Force Law Enforcement, Motorola and Frank Salas Photography.
Did you know policing in Brea goes way back before Brea was a city?
According to the Brea Museum’s director and curator, Linda Shay, Brea first had a constable, George Bird. He served as constable from 1916 to 1920.
In 1917, Brea became an incorporated city and Harry Winchell became the city’s first marshal. Finally, in 1921, the Brea Police Department was established and Charles Mc Clure named its first chief of police. It’s come a long way, for sure.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.