The Chandler Police Department recognized the exceptional efforts of its employees during 2019 at its Annual Awards Ceremony. Department employees gathered on the evening of February 11, 2020 to celebrate the accomplishments of 19 Department members.
Officer Eva Zermeno was awarded the Community Service Award for her outreach in the Hispanic and Latino community. From participating in events such as the Department sponsored Latino meet & greets and Si Se Puede Foundation to collaborating with Spanish media, Officer Zermeno has embraced the Chandler mission to serve the community through teamwork and understanding. A two-year Department veteran, Officer Zermeno currently serves as a patrol officer in the Chandler Heights Precinct.
Members of the Property & Evidence Unit were awarded the Professional Team of the Year. In 2019, Kenny Thatcher, Karen Lopez, Jason Goerndt, Rich Schattner, and Carmen Torres processed over 51,000 items – an all-time high for the Department. The P & E Unit did all this while serving both internal and external customers with a .11% error rate.
Team Six was awarded the Patrol Team of the Year. Members of Team Six, Sergeant Nate Jacobs and Officers David Quezada, Brittany Atterbury, Jesse Metzler, Tyler Cascio, Darren Heslop, Julian Gomez, and Megan Fritz, serve the Desert Breeze Precinct. Throughout 2019, Team Six developed proactive solutions to problems in their respective beats, responded to and investigated numerous critical incidents, and developed relationships with citizens in the area they serve.
Records Supervisor Kristin Leonard was awarded the Civilian Supervisor of the Year. Kristin has served the Department for 25 years and, throughout her tenure, Kristin has exemplified leadership and professionalism in her position. From mentoring new staff members to encouraging veteran employees to find their professional path, Kristin is always willing to help others learn and grow.
Sergeant David Pilkington was awarded the Sworn Supervisor of the Year. A 15-year Department veteran with over 18 total years in law enforcement, Sergeant Pilkington strives every day to enhance the Chandler Police Department by giving those around him the tools to improve their performance through mentorship and guidance. A great communicator and open-minded, Sergeant Pilkington’s efforts to consistently mentor, teach, and lead have been of great benefit to the Department as a whole.
Senior Administrative Assistant Amanda Brown was awarded the Employee of the Year. Amanda has served the Department for five years and comes to work with an incredibly positive attitude and continues in this approach throughout the day. Amanda has great communication skills, is an excellent listener, and is not afraid to take on new challenges or help out.
Officer Erin O’Bryan was awarded the Officer of the Year. A six-year Department veteran, Officer O’Bryan serves as a patrol officer out of the Desert Breeze Precinct. Along with being a ‘go to’ for a variety of things, Officer O’Bryan serves as a mentor to new officers and is sought out for advice and guidance from her peers.
Police Operations Support Supervisor Carole Speranza was awarded the Chief’s Award of Excellence. Carole has served the Department for six years and, during this time, has demonstrated a deep rooted commitment to the organization as well as a special ability to connect with people, both employees and citizens alike. In the last half of 2019, Carole performed two jobs; her current position and continued in her old job as the Chief’s Management Assistant while her successor was away on leave.
The Chandler Police Department would like to thank Soho 63 for hosting and San Tan Brewery for catering the event. A special thanks to Nicole Crites and Paul Horton for emceeing the ceremony.