For the first time in its 33-year history, the Friends of the Dallas Police Awards Banquet has named two women as its top honorees. Senior Corporal Monica Cordova was named the John T. McCarthy Officer of the Year, and Joann Anaya was named the James Taylor Non-Sworn Employee of the Year. Cordova works in the office of the Chief of Police in media relations and departmental communications, and Anaya is a crime technician in the investigations bureau.
Including the 19 major awards announced that evening, the Friends of the Dallas Police recognized nearly 200 sworn officers and non-sworn staff members in a variety of categories: Medal of Valor, Meritorious Conduct, Police Commendation, Life Saving, Police Shield and Bureau awards. Many awardees know before the banquet that they are winners, but six award winners – including Reserve Officer, Field Training Officer, Supervisor, Departmental Non-Sworn Employee and Departmental Officer of the Year – were announced at the event. The award recipients were chosen from nominations made by DPD supervisors based on an officer’s overall yearly performance.
“I believe the Dallas Police Department has the best employees in the nation. And although they don’t expect recognition, we greatly appreciate the Friends of the Dallas Police for shining the light on these outstanding men and women whose courage, compassion and dedication we salute,” said Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown.
The dinner, presented by Highland Capital Management and attracting one of its biggest crowds ever, was recently held at the Hyatt Regency Dallas. Radio talk show host Mark Davis was the emcee. Founded in 1982 by a group of Dallas business leaders to recognize employees of the Dallas Police Department for outstanding performance in the line of duty, the Friends of the Dallas Police Awards Banquet raises money to celebrate the men and women of the Dallas Police Department who risk their lives every day to make Dallas a safer city. The Friends organization believes that, no matter their position within the department, each of DPD’s nearly 4,000 employees has made a commitment to better the city and the quality of life of its citizens.
The Marvin R. Bullard Supervisor of the Year Award went to Sergeant Edward K. Spila (Northwest Division), and the Field Training Officer of the Year went to Senior Corporal Cynthia A. Stewart (Southwest Division). The Joe C. Jones Reserve Officer of the Year Award was presented to Reserve Lieutenant Kyle Anderson (Southeast Division).
Nominees for the Johnny Sides Rookie of the Year Award — Police Officer Le H. Chau (Northeast Division) and Police Officer Jeannetta Weng (Central Division) — were acknowledged, and the winner will be announced at the Junior Chamber of Commerce event later this year.
A number of Bureau Awards also were presented. In the Office of the Chief of Police Bureau, honorees were office assistant Aurelia Monjaras and Senior Corporal Monica Cordova. Administrative Bureau awards went to video specialist Rodrick E. Peters and detective Richard L. Kresse. Investigation Bureau honors were presented to crime technician Joann Anaya and detective Eduardo A. Ibarra. Research specialist Adrian Chavez (Southwest Division) and Senior Corporate Christopher S. Cooley (Southwest Division) were saluted in the Patrol Bureau. The Strategic Deployment Bureau winners were senior criminal intelligence analyst Michael B. Freeman and Senior Corporal Laurent Lespagnol in the helicopter unit. The Support Bureau honored communications manager Beatrice Pena and police officer Michael Henderson.
The 2016 Educational Scholarship Award, which goes to the child of a Dallas Police Officer for college use only, was given to Shane Bird, the son of Senior Corporal Mitch Bird, a 26-year veteran of the DPD. Shane currently studies business at Texas A&M University.
“This is one of the best years of the night as we take a moment to recognize the exceptional men and women of the Dallas Police Department. We can never do enough to thank them for their tireless work day in and day out to make Dallas one of the safest urban cities in the nation,” said Mitch Paradise, chairman of the Friends of the Dallas Police.
The Chief Sponsor at the $10,000 level is Highland Capital Management. The Captain Sponsors at the $5,000 and up level are Freeman Auto Group; Cigna; Sewell; Al G. Hill, Jr.; Anita and Truman Arnold; Ellen & John McStay; Mrs. Harold Simmons; The Don Henley Family; and Tom Cox Attorney At Law. The Lieutenant Sponsor at the $3,500 level are AT&T and Hunt Consolidated, Inc. Sergeant Sponsors at the $2,500 level are AG & E Structural Engenuity, Dallas Mavericks, Billingsley Company, Kroger and Lyda Hill Foundation.
The Corporal sponsors at the $1,500 level are the Apartment Association of North Texas; Audrey Graham, M.D.; Bellatorra Skin Care; Doug and Martha Morris; El Centro College; Erle Nye; Hillwood Development Company, LLC; Holt Lunsford Commercial; JLT Beverages, LP/ Julie and Jim Turner; NCH Corporation; NorthPark; Park Place Dealerships; PGV Pediatrics; Ruth C. and Charles S. Sharp Foundation; and Southern Methodist University.
For more information about the Friends of the Dallas Police, go to friendsofthedallaspolice.org.