Top cops, civilians named at Maricopa Police Foundation banquet

Top cops, civilians named at Maricopa Police Foundation banquet

By Scott Bartle

 

Ofc. Jenny Alsidez and Sgt. Elliot Sneezy took home the top honors – Officer of the Year and Sergeant of the Year – at the Maricopa Police Foundation awards banquet at Province Oct. 25.

 

The annual event recognizes Maricopa Police officers and civilian employees and raises money the foundation uses to purchase equipment for the department.

 

Community programs manager Mary Witkofski was named Civilian Employee of the Year and Suzan Win Volunteer of the Year.

 

Alsidez has been a police officer for 10 years, seven of which working for the city of Maricopa. 

 

 “I was very surprised,” Alsidez said. “I work with a lot of well-deserving officers, and I know a bunch of good officers were nominated and I’m honored to have been selected as the Officer of the Year.” 

 

Chief Steve Stahl said Alsidez epitomizes what he believes is the “complete package” in an officer: “They should be crime fighters; they should be crime preventers; they should be peers; they should be leaders; they should be counselors.

 

“There is no task that’s too great for her to handle. There is no assignment she doesn’t accept, and when the work is completed, it’s usually before it’s due and always extremely thorough. I believe that is exactly what the citizens ask for in a police officer.”

 

Officers Jose Angulo, Pam O’Neal and Irene Walker were also nominated by their fellow officers.

 

Sneezy and Sgt. Leonard Perez were nominated for the prestigious Sergeant of the Year award. 

 

Stahl said his sergeants “are accountable not only for their actions but for those of their squad and, quite often, other squads, and they represent the leadership of Maricopa Police Department on an everyday basis.”

 

Stahl praised Sneezy’s leadership, ability to empower and advocate for his officers, and his efforts in spearheading the department’s bicycle safety and certification programs.

 

“Sgt. Sneezy has taken my vision of secession planning and preparing these officers for the next level – not only being extremely good at what they do, but preparing them to be supervisors in this department,” Stahl said.

 

“It’s really a tribute to the people I work for,” Sneezy said, referring to the six officers in his squad, one of whom is Alsidez. “They put in a lot of good work.

 

“The whole goal was to work together as a team.”

 

Sneezy has been in law enforcement 20 years and was in the second group hired at MPD after the department was formed in 2007. 

 

“There’s a lot of discussion, if not arguing, among executive staff members” when deciding the winners, Stahl said. “They are all extremely well-deserving, and I’m extremely proud of all the officers.”

 

One hundred sixty people attended the event – a third more than last year – raising about $8,500 for the Maricopa Police Foundation.

 

Stahl said he was pleased, proud and humbled: “I think everyone walked out of there with a great deal of pride for their police department.” 

 

See photos of the event at www.InMaricopa.com/Gallery. 

 

Award Recipients

 

Sergeant of the Year: Elliot Sneezy

 

Officer of the Year: Jenny Alsidez

 

Civilian Employee of the Year: Mary Witkofski

 

Volunteer of the Year: Suzan Win

 

Chief’s Meritorious Award:

• Arielle Cohen 

• Ryan Sheppard

 

Certificate of Appreciation:

• Elvis Ray

 

Chief’s Unit Award:

• Richard Aguirre

• Craig Curry

• Arielle Cohen 

• Michael Knueppel

• Meredith McLean

• Ryan Sheppard

• Michael Straub

• Ryan Straub

 

Distinguished Service:

• Jose Angulo

• Colt Homan

• BJ Marino

• Rebecca Molus

• Peder Thygesen

 

Commendation

• Jenny Alsidez

• Jose Angulo

• Steven Bribiescas

• Donnie Burnias

• Michael Campbell

• Arielle Cohen

• Craig Curry

• Michael Dennison

• Andrew DeOrio

• Melissa Drane

• Joshua Hawksworth

• Lisa Hendrix

• Colt Homan

• Frederick Kiefer

• Steven Judd

• Michael Knueppel

• Andrew Leach

• Gregory Lochner

• Michael MacAllister

• BJ Marino

• Kevin Mellor

• Rebecca Molus

• Pamela O’Neal

• Mario Palacios

• Leonard Perez

• Adam Pittman

• Zaki Sanchez

• Ryan Sheppard

• John Soanes

• Pete Torres

• Irene Walker

• Garrick Ward

• Allen Weston

• Sean Wurm

• Martha Zayas