4 newportbeachindy . com MAY 10 , 2024

By NB Indy Staff

On Friday , April 26 , the 51st Annual Newport Beach Police Appreciation Luncheon was held at the Pendry , Newport Beach . The event was hosted by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Commodores Club , and sponsored by Balboa Fun Zone , Julie Laughton Design Build , and the Chase-Fainbarg and Feuerstein Families . Members of the Police Department were honored at the luncheon , which was also attended by city staff , community leaders , and local business community members .

Each year , nominations for the Police Department Awards are collected by committees for each award category . Members of the Police Department who receive award nominations are discussed by those committees , and then recommendations are submitted to the Chief of Police for consideration .

The following members of the Newport Beach Police Department received recognition at the luncheon : Lieutenant Gary Clemente , 2023 Sworn Supervisor of the Year ; Officer Austin Laverty , 2023 Officer of the Year ; Records Manager Megan Schilf , 2023 Civilian Supervisor of the Year ; Community Services Officer Thu Do , 2023 Civilian of the Year ; Volunteer Judy Johnson , 2023 Volunteer of the Year . Additional awards presented : Lifesaving Award : presented to Officers Jared Edwards , Michael Querry , Mitchell Rivas and Matthew Wong .

Details : On October 8 , 2023 , Officers Jared Edwards , Michael Querry , Mitchell Rivas , and Matthew Wong were dispatched in an emergency response to a Newport Beach residence reference a male subject who was not breathing and unresponsive . Officers located the victim , who was lying in bed unconscious , not breathing , and had no pulse . Officers Edwards , Querry , Rivas , and Wong immediately began to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ( CPR ) for several minutes while also deploying the Automatic External Defibrillator ( AED ) in an attempt to save the victim ’ s life . Officers continued to perform life-saving measures until Newport Beach paramedics arrived and transported the male to a local area hospital , where he was able to make a full recovery .

Lifesaving Award presented to Officer Sean Esswein

Details : On June 22 , 2023 , Officer Sean Esswein was dispatched in an emergency response to a Newport Beach residence reference a call of a female who had collapsed and was not breathing . Officer Esswein was the first on scene and was directed to the female victim , who was not breathing and was unresponsive . Officer Esswein immediately began performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ( CPR ) on the female and continued by himself for several minutes until Newport Beach paramedics arrived to assist . The Newport Beach Fire Department Paramedics were able to transport the female to a local hospital , where she was able to make a full recovery .

Lifesaving Award presented to Officer Mark C . Hamilton

Details : On November 17 , 2023 , Officer Mark C . Hamilton was dispatched in an emergency response to the area of West Coast Highway and Prospect Street reference a serious traffic collision with injuries . The first responders on scene found that a female motorcyclist was injured in the collision and was in critical condition , unresponsive , with a faint pulse .

Complicating the situation , a major fire at a nearby hospital limited the availability of officers and medical resources to respond . Due to a shortage of personnel ,

Pictured left to right : Austin Laverty , Thu Do , Chief Joe Cartwright , Megan Schilf , Judy Johnson , Gary Clemente

paramedics requested Officer Hamilton ’ s assistance in helping the victim to breathe with a bag valve mask . As the paramedics transported her to a local hospital , Officer Hamilton rode with them in the back of the medic van and continued assisting with life-saving efforts , while in full gear , including his motorcycle helmet . The victim , initially believed to have less than a day to live , has since been able to make a remarkable recovery .

Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Guy Hufford and Lina You

Details : On July 19 , 2023 , Officers Guy Hufford and Lina You were dispatched in an emergency response to a residence in Newport Beach reference a female subject with a self-inflicted gunshot wound . Officers Hufford and You arrived at the scene and located a female victim lying in her bedroom , bleeding profusely from a gunshot wound fired point-blank to her chest near her heart . As the victim began to lose consciousness due to the significant loss of blood , officers You and Hufford rendered

medical aid , which included the application of an occlusive chest seal over the wound . Paramedics soon arrived and were able to transport the victim to a local hospital , where she underwent emergency surgery and eventually made a full recovery .

Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Tyler Knox and Zachary Michael

Details : On April 3 , 2023 , Officers Tyler Knox and Zachary Michael were dispatched to a residence in Newport Beach regarding a welfare check on a suicidal subject . Officers arrived and located the subject hiding in the bushes . The man held a large knife against his throat and threatened to kill himself . While attempting to negotiate with the subject , officers observed blood coming from the subject ’ s neck as he further pressed the knife against his own throat . Officers Knox and Michael continued to peacefully talk with the subject for over fifteen minutes , eventually convincing him to set down the knife and

AWARDS Page 9

MAILING ADDRESS : 900 Glenneyre Street , Suite B , Laguna Beach , CA 92651 Tel : 949-715-4100 | Fax : 949-715-4106 | www . newportbeachindy . com

HOW TO CONTACT THE CITY COUNCIL

* indicates term limit

BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION The Newport Beach Independent wants to hear from you about the issues affecting us all . Send letters to : info @ NewportBeachIndy . com