The third annual Cypress Police Appreciation Luncheon packed the Cypress Community Center on Thursday, as five people were honored for their service and dedication to assisting the police department and the community.
The third annual Cypress Police Appreciation Luncheon packed the Cypress Community Center on Thursday, as five people were honored for their service and dedication to assisting the police department and the community.
Cypress Police Officer Christopher Lee was recognized with the Silver Distinguished Service Award for his efforts in helping save the life of a woman who was attempting to commit suicide. Police Officer Scott Ausmus was recognized as the Officer of the Year and Police Aide Nathan Ticorat was recognized as the Employee of the Year.
Two Cypress residents were honored as Citizens of the Year; volunteer Chuck Mealey and Johnnie Strohmyer. Guest speaker Peter Bowen, a former Marine and current president of Servite High School, spoke of how the honorees represent what makes a community strong.
“You all are setting the example of leadership,” Bowen said.
In particular, he noted that police officers don’t usually regard their responsibilities as a job, but rather as a vocation or a calling. He said that America was founded as a country where leadership was formed at the bottom, rather than the old European monarchy where the royals took care of their subjects.
“When people trust each other you have a community, you have a powerful community,” Bowen said.
On June 12, 2012, Officer Lee responded to a call of a 49-year old woman who was attempting to take her own life and had already sustained a self-inflicted wound to the neck. After officers were able to subdue her, Lee began lifesaving measures by applying pressure to the wound.
Responding paramedics continued to use Lee to help secure the wound as the woman was transported to a local hospital where she eventually recovered from her injuries. Orange County Fire Authorities credited Lee as a major factor in saving the woman’s life.
In 2012, Officer Ausmus was instrumental in investigating a felony assault case involving a member of the Hell’s Angels gang. According to the Deputy District Attorney, it was the first time in county history that a member of the Hell’s Angels received gang-related sentencing enhancements. Ausmus is a member of West County S.W.A.T. and an instructor at the Golden West College Criminal Justice Training Center.
Police Aide Ticorat was recognized for his work in maintaining the firing range facility, assisting the property and evidence unit and managing equipment for the West County S.W.A.T. Unit, among other duties. Ticorat began on the volunteer corps at age 20 in 2009 and was hired as a police aide in 2012. He was one of the Citizen of the Year honorees at the inaugural luncheon in 2009.
Volunteer Chuck Mealey was recognized for his dedication to not only the police department but to the city overall. He has assisted the senior commission and last year he joined the city’s redevelopment oversight committee. Johnnie Strohmyer was recognized for her contribution to such police events as Red Ribbon Week and the Police Foundation. Strohmyer was instrumental in forming the Police Foundation and also in starting the annual Police Appreciation Luncheon.
