Outstanding Laguna law enforcement recognized

For the first time in four years, Laguna Beach law enforcement was formally celebrated for service above and beyond the call of duty.

The 30th Laguna Beach Police Department Awards and Recognition Ceremony was conducted Jan. 22 over breakfast at the venue [seven degrees]. The event hosted by the Laguna Beach Exchange Club has not been held since 2011 because of a series of circumstances.

The traffic-accident death of motorcycle Officer Jon Coutchie in the line of duty in September 2013 derailed the event last year. Coutchie was posthumously honored with the 2013 Officer of the Year Award at this year’s event.

“I’m proud to have received the honor for my son,” said Robert Coutchie, who traveled from North Las Vegas to accept the Medal of Honor and Police Cross. “It’s an honor for me, obviously, but I’m equally proud of all the others that received awards. He was a team player. If he were here to receive this honor, I think he would have recognized in some manner that the award was also for the members who supported him.”

The challenges of overcoming the loss were echoed by those in attendance.

“That was a very hard pill to swallow in my last couple of years,” said retiring Police Chief Paul Workman, who was honored for his 40 years of service in Laguna Beach. “I had thought I was going to get through my career without ever having to face the loss of an officer. It was a very tragic thing to happen, but I know as a department we did grow closer and some leaders emerged out of that.”

A memorial sculpture honoring fallen officers Coutchie and Gordon French was dedicated in front of the police headquarters last September. French lost his life 60 years earlier, when a suspect shot and killed the booking officer at the Laguna Beach jail in February 1953.

After three years of accumulated accomplishments, dozens of officers and civilian employees of the Police Department were recognized.

Cpl. Bill Cindel was not in attendance to accept his Medal of Merit as the 2012 Officer of the Year. He had worked the graveyard shift and opted for sleep over the breakfast appreciation ceremony, a decision supported by his commanding officer since Cindel was on that day’s night schedule as well.

Six-year department veteran James Michaud celebrated his 36th birthday as the 2014 Officer of the Year. He separately earned a ribbon of commendation for saving a prisoner from a drug overdose in the city jail.

“It’s an honor to be voted by your peers to be an Officer of the Year,” said Michaud, wearing his formal uniform. “It’s a great community, and it’s great to work here, coming from the cold place I come from in Minnesota.”

The 2014 Civilian Employee of the Year award went to Nikki Hernandez, community services officer. Dispatcher Jordan Villwock received the 2013 equivalent at the ceremony.

“This is about them. They all work hard,” Workman said of the men and women in the public service arena. “I think it’s important to recognize the rank-and-file employees. They do a good job. Sometimes they do some great things out there and nobody notices.”