There’s a reason cities honor and show appreciation toward their police officers each year and it’s a much-deserved honor, for without police officers to protect the citizens, lawlessness and crime could easily abound.
In that spirit, once again, the City of Buena Park honored its officers during the recent 48th Annual Police Appreciation Brunch held at the Knott’s Berry Farm Hotel.
Police Chief Corey Sianez welcomed those attending with a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, a former New York City Police Commissioner who later became President of the United States: “No man is worth his salt who is not ready at all times to risk his body, to risk his wellbeing, to risk his life in a great cause…policing with honor in the United States of America is a great cause.”
Sianez said, “I’m here today to tell you that the men and women of the Buena Park Police Department work hard every single day for that great cause. Our training, level of service, and commitment to doing the right thing are second to none and I’m proud to be part of this team.”
Sianez said that he is proud of the strong relationships the police department has formed with the neighborhoods, schools, residents and businesses, working to continue to prevent and reduce crime and to enhance the quality of life for everyone throughout the community.
Sianez, who has served with the Buena Park Police Department since he was 21 years old, is serving his eighth year as Chief of Police and will soon celebrate his 40th year with the department. He noted the difference in equipment given to officers back then compared to the much more sophisticated and necessary equipment now and the education and retraining it takes to keep officers up to date on all of the equipment.
“It requires literally more daily re-education than a doctor or lawyer ever needs to do their job,” said Sianez. “And when a police officer applies that education, they have to be a psychologist, pharmacologist, teacher, counselor, negotiator, salesperson, lawyer, social worker, mental health worker, an EMT, and also, if necessary, be decisive and able to make a split second decision on whether or not to use deadly force to protect themselves or someone from imminent danger; all possibly occurring during one shift.”
Sianez pointed out that being a police officer has always been a tough job but today it is even more so. He said that serving as a police officer today means facing adversity and overcoming increasing challenges.
“We ask more of our officers on the street today than at any time in history; policing is about much more than simply investigating crime and arresting those who do harm,” he said. “I thank God every day for our police officers who put their lives on the line for people they have never met, total strangers to them, people they don’t even know.”
Sianez thanked the officers for their commitment, dedication and sacrifice and for always being ready to risk their own lives to keep the community safe.
“To date, three Buena Park Police officers and one Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy died in the line of duty in Buena Park; three passed during my time as a police officer. It’s important that we honor them through our remembrance,” he said. “We offer our respect and prayers to their loved ones.”
Many awards of commendation were present during the brunch, too numerous to mention here, as top police officers are selected each month throughout the year; so to mention a few, the 2018 Buena Park Police Association Employees of the Year include: Explorer of the Year Captain Steven Martinez, Volunteer of the Year Joseph Callaghan, Civilian of the Year Police Services Officer Nadia Semann, Reserve Officer of the Year Larry Ungles, Supervisor of the Year Sergeant Michael Lovchik and Police Officer of the Year George Gentner.
Thank you, Buena Park Police officers and staff, for your continued support to help make the city a safe place to work, play and live for its citizens.
The Police Officer of the Year Award was presented to Officer George Gentner (right). Presenting the award is Chief Corey Sianez.
