Going above and beyond to help Lodi
Lodi police recognize officers, citizens for service
Several local residents and employees in the Lodi Police Department have gone above and beyond in serving their community. Many were honored on Friday afternoon at the 29th annual Law Enforcement Recognition Awards Ceremony — those recognized included a man who saved Jacqueline Pickett from an assault in Beckman Park, an officer who helped reunite a homeless father and children with family and an officer who was injured while coming to the aid of his fellow officers. Citizen’s Awards
Jeffrey Leach, who was honored with a Citizen’s Award, was the first on scene of the assault that took place in January 2016 at Beckman Park where Jacqueline Pickett was attacked with a bat. Lodi Police Chief Tod Patterson recounted the details of that investigation. The suspect, Dulce Rios, was suffering from mental health issues and had walked to the park with the bat, Patterson said. She watched Pickett, who was sitting on a stump and facing away, he said. Pickett was struck across the head and knocked to the ground as the suspect allegedly continued striking her, according to Patterson.
Leach was driving to the store that day and noticed the suspect walking with a baseball bat, Patterson said. Leach thought that was odd, since it was not baseball season. About a half hour later, Patterson said Leach saw the suspect swinging the bat downward and stopped his car to investigate, discovering Pickett and Rios. As he waited for police to arrive, Leach kept the suspect, who was still armed on-scene. Pickett was transported to the hospital with severe head trauma.
Rios is still awaiting trial. “Because of Mr. Leach’s actions that day, a young woman’s life was saved,” Patterson said.
Pickett and her family were present to see Leach receive this honor. She took an opportunity to show her gratitude, saying that she would not be here if it were not for his help.
“I thank the good Lord that he had me in the right spot at the right time. This is a real honor,” Leach said. He told the crowd that the real heroes were Pickett and her family for working to overcome a terrible situation and the police for coming to their aid.
Another Citizen’s Award went to Michael O’Riley, a resident who came to the aid of police officers in a struggle with a suspect. In December 2016, officers were on patrol when they noticed a man with warrants for arrest was sitting on a porch on the 300 block of Chesnut Street. The man fled to the backyard of the residences with officers in pursuit and armed himself with a chain, which he used to attack the officer.
The officer deployed his Taser, which was ineffective and the man tried to escape by jumping a fence. A struggle ensued, and O’Riley, who was sitting on the porch next door, heard the yelling and helped the officer, telling the subject to stop fighting the officer and to “stand down.” O’Riley then held the subject by the left shoulder and wrist until other officers arrived.
Life Saving Award
Receiving the Life Saving Award were Lodi Police Dispatcher Jayma Sareeram, Cpl. Eric Bradley, Officer William Hinton and Officer Brannon Haro. In June 2016, a man arrested for domestic violence and other charges attempted to hang himself with a telephone cord in the jail. Sareeram found him and quickly called for help. Bradley, Haro and Hinton provided aid until an ambulance was able to arrive.
“We deal with him a lot on a negative basis, but the bottom life is that his life matters, too. He has a family who loves him,” Haro said.
The man survived and later thanked them for saving his life on social media, Patterson said.
Meritorious Service Award
Haro was also the recipient of the Meritorious Service Award for his work in helping in working proactively and thinking outside of the box within his beat such as when he helped do a welfare check on father with three children at a bus stop. He reached out to the father’s mother in New Mexico and spearheaded a fundraising campaign to work on reuniting them. Haro even donated between $450 and $600 of his own money to make it happen.
Purple Heart
Officer Robert Rench was awarded a Purple Heart, which is given to officers who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. He received
it for an incident in September 2016 when he was dispatched to a report of a theft at Raley’s. A suspect was identified and he responded to the suspects residence to return his cell phone he left behind and issue a warning not to return to the store, Patterson said.
As officers were leaving, the suspect, Marcus Amann, made a comment about getting a gun and retrieved a bat, threatening the officers. Rench deployed his K-9 and pursued Amann into the residence, where he was struck with the bat on his left arm and left wrist. When Amann began attacking another officer who had just tried to use a Taser, Rench drew his weapon and fired three to four shots in his upper body stopping the assault, Patterson said. Amann was convicted of assaulting two Lodi police officers with a bat in February this year.
Rench, who was on light duty due to his injuries, is now back to work on normal duty as of Wednesday.
“I want to thank everyone in the department. I got a lot of support,” Rench said describing the many texts and phone calls he received following the incident.
Officer of the Year
This year’s Officer of the Year is officer Jose Nuno, who has worked in the department since 1996. Last year, Nuno helped reduce crime and promote traffic safety by making 140 arrests and issuing 311 citations, Patterson said. He is also considered by his peers to be dependable and an example to younger officers. He has
worked on the special enforcement team which has been instrumental in bringing down the rates of gangrelated crimes to a 20-year low of 39 incidents in 2016, Patterson said.
Nuno said he hasn’t done it alone and works together with amazing officers at the department to help the community.
“I love what I do and I’m passionate about it,” he said. “It’s an awesome community.”