Last week the Bothell Police Department held their annual awards ceremony to honor employees and citizens of the city who have performed exceptionally during the prior year.
The awards presented this year include the Officer and Employee of the Year, Life Savings Awards, Meritorious Service Awards and Chief Citations.
The 2013 Officer of the Year is Detective/Officer Glen Chissus. Detective Chissus was selected as the Officer of the Year for his exceptional performances in investigating and solving several large impact felony cases, as well as serving as a team member in a high profile homicide case occurring in 2013.
The 2013 Employee of the Year is Police Support Officer Melissa Downs. Police Support Officer Downs was selected as the Employee of the Year for her exceptional performances of handling large scale evidence processing for large impact felony cases including a high profile homicide case occurring in 2013.
Two police officers were awarded life saving medals for their actions in two separate residence fires that occurred in late 2012. Officer Brett Bernard and Officer Shawn Kunkel each entered a burning residence, on two separate occasions, and rescued a resident from the residence. Responding medical personnel indicated that in both incidents, had the officers not responded as quickly as they did, the resident would have died from smoke inhalation.
Two additional police officers were awarded life saving medals for their actions in an incident involving a suicidal subject. Officer Les Brooks and Officer Vince Domingcil were responding to a welfare check on an individual and, upon arriving at the scene, discovered the subject attempting to commit suicide by hanging. Recognizing that they could not wait for other responding units or for medical units, they worked together to physically save the subject’s life. Without their immediate intervention, this subject would have been successful in the attempt.
Sergeant Bryan Keller was awarded a Meritorious Service medal for his exceptional service in funding raising for Special Olympics. Sergeant Keller has been involved in funding raising for this group for over twenty years. For the past five years, Sergeant Keller has been the organizing force behind a Bothell Police team selling football programs for the Spirit of 12 Special Olympic fundraiser at Seahawks games. Another example of Sergeant Keller’s ongoing efforts for this group include coordinating Bothell Police personnel in serving as “Celebrity Waiters” at various restaurants in the Bothell/Kenmore/Lynnwood area in what is called “Tip a Cop” events. On April 3, 2014, Sergeant Keller and other Bothell Police personnel will be the “Celebrity Waiters” for a “Tip a Cop” event occurring at the Claim Jumpers Restaurant located in Lynnwood.
The City’s Domestic Violence Victim’s Coordinator Sharon Haley was honored with a Chief’s Citation and Coin for her exceptional work with domestic violence victims and her valued partnership with the Bothell Police Department. In the citation, Chief Cummings indicated that “Sharon routinely goes above and beyond her responsibilities by following up on incidents involving Bothell victims.”
Peter Frix, owner of FREEDOC, a Frix Technologies Company, was also honored with a Chief’s Citation and Coin. Over the past several years, Mr. Frix has participated in donating cash and food for the Bothell Police Department food drives occurring during the holidays. Since he began partnering with the Police Department, Mr. Frix has averaged over $2,000 in donations of cash and food items each year, that were distributed to local citizens in need.
