Arcadia Police Officers Honored at City Council Meeting

 (Pictured left to right are Chief Bob Guthrie, Sergeant Jason Davis, Detective Wally Ashby, Detective Tony Juarez, Captain Larry Goodman, and Captain Paul Foley)

Three of the Arcadia Police Department’s finest were recognized last night at the Arcadia City Council Meeting: one Medal of Merit Award and two Life Saving Awards.

Detective Wally Ashby was presented the Department’s Medal of Merit for his significant contributions to charity events on behalf of Special Olympics over the course of the last few years.  In addition to his participation and assistance in coordinating the Law Enforcement Special Olympics Southern California Torch Run, Detective Ashby created the annual Battle of the Badges charity basketball game between the Arcadia Police and Fire Departments.  This annual event has evolved into a community function with outside sponsorships, contributions, and participation by multiple San Gabriel Valley Police and Fire Departments.  The Arcadia Battle of the Badges events have raised in excess of $15,000.00 to date in support of Special Olympics.  Detective Ashby was recently honored and recognized for his dedication to the Special Olympics at the 2013 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics International Conference in Florida.

Sergeant Jason Davis was presented the Department’s Life Saving Award for his actions at the scene of a serious injury vehicle collision in April 2013.  A passenger riding in an involved vehicle in the collision suffered a severe laceration to his upper right arm by broken glass.  The laceration was bleeding profusely when Sergeant Davis arrived on scene.  Due to other emergency calls for service in the City, Arcadia Fire rescue ambulances were unable to respond to this injury collision, and the closest available ambulance was responding from the City of San Marino.  In an attempt to control the profuse bleeding, Sergeant Davis applied a tourniquet to the arm of the victim.  Paramedics arrived and the victim was transported to a local trauma center for treatment.  The Trauma Program Manager at the hospital commended the actions of Sergeant Davis saying the victim potentially could have bled to death without the application of the tourniquet.

Detective Tony Juarez was presented the Department’s Life Saving Award for his actions in conducting Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on a 15-month old baby in August 2013.  Detective Juarez was conducting surveillance in the City of Pasadena as part of his assignment to the West San Gabriel Valley Anti-Crime Task Force when he heard a radio broadcast of an “infant not breathing” call at a nearby residence.  Detective Juarez responded to the home and was the first emergency responder on scene.  He found the baby in obvious distress and not breathing.  Detective Juarez rendered immediate first aid checking the baby for pulse and breathing obstructions.  Detective Juarez commenced emergency breathing and chest compressions on the baby, repeating the process for several minutes until the arrival of Pasadena Fire Department personnel who assumed primary care and took over CPR.  Family members of the baby commended Detective Juarez and said his actions no doubt saved her life.

On behalf of the entire Arcadia Police Department and Chief Guthrie, we would like to thank each of these Department members and congratulate them on these well-deserved awards.  Wally, Jason, and Tony, we are proud of you and salute you on your awards!