South Lake Tahoe Police Department awards ceremony Wednesday

In conjunction with Memorial Day, and the National Peace Officer's Memorial Week, The South Lake Tahoe Police Department will hold its annual award ceremony 1 p.m. Wednesday. Officers are inviting their public and city family to attend as the presentations are made in front of the police department. Seating will be available, and refreshments will be offered during the reception that immediately follows. This year, the agency will be recognizing five employees with individual awards. The employees receiving recognition are:

Distinguished Service: Officers Mark Hounsell & Doug Sentell

This award is being given to recognize the exceptional service given by these Officers during the year of 2008. Sentell has made significant strides to safeguard our community with traffic education and enforcement efforts. Hounsell was instrumental in creating a multi-disciplinary team to address nuisance commercial properties in the city. He also contributed to the creation of the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association and developing its website at www.sltpca.com

Meritorious Service Award: Officer Tony Broadfoot

In an attempt to locate a distraught and fleeing teenage girl, Broadfoot and his K-9 partner Duke were called out during the night to assist other officers. Broadfoot started Duke on a scent track for the girl. Duke tracked the youth to the waters of Lake Tahoe. Duke walked about 10 feet out into the water and stopped. After searching the dark water for several minutes Broadfoot observed the unconscious girl in the water approximately 50 feet from shore. Broadfoot dropped his equipment entered the 40-degree water. Broadfoot brought the girl to shore and immediately initiated CPR. Unfortunately, the girl died. Nevertheless, Broadfoot put his life at immediate risk to attempt this rescue.

Community Service Award: Officer Ray Poole

Poole will be recognized for his personal sacrifices to keep our community safe. He has personally invested his time to walk with groups of children trick or treating during Halloween. This past year, the police received specific and credible information regarding the potential for street violence on Halloween night. Poole volunteered for this special duty. He ensured the children's safety and his presence among them helped to prevent any violence from occurring. Poole is also recognized for the individual follow up attention he has given to drug offenders, to assist them getting and maintaining various programs to facilitate their recovery.

Explorer Scout of the Year Award: Dylan Sullivan

Sullivan has demonstrated dedication and quality of service to the Police Explorer Post, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and our Community. During his five years of service he has been a positive role model to our Explorers Scouts, and to all the youth of our community.

Special Presentation:

Representatives will be present from the Oakland Police Department and the Henderson County Sheriff's Department in Texas to honor the memory of the late Paul Habelt. Habelt was a former SLTPD Police Officer who came from Oakland PD. Officer Habelt survived being shot in the line of duty in South Lake Tahoe and retired due to the injuries he received. He subsequently served as a Deputy Sheriff for the Henderson County Sheriff's Department, where he was shot and killed in the line of duty during Peace Officer's Memorial week in 2007. A plaque will be presented to his surviving family, and another will be retained by SLTPD in our building.