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Officer of the Year 2003
Honoring Houston Police Officer Michael W. Iwasyk Left to right - Mike
Mallon, Captain Buenik, The Chapter selected
Officer Iwasyk Officer of the Month in January 2003.
Officer of the Month
Honoring Deputy Deleon (m) On Sunday, June 1, 2003, Deputy Sisto Deleon was working an approved extra job providing store security at the HEB Grocery Store located at 2660 Fountainview. At approximately 9:30 that evening, Deputy Deleon was standing just outside the store’s center exit door monitoring the parking lot. The manager and a cashier approached Deputy Deleon and advised him a robbery of the store had just taken place. The manager then pointed to a male walking away from the store and identified him as the person who had just robbed the store. Deputy Deleon was advised that the suspect had told the cashier he had a gun and would kill him if he did not turn over the money. Without hesitation, Deputy Deleon engaged the suspect who began running away from him with a plastic HEB bag in his hand. Deputy Deleon ordered the suspect to stop several times, but the suspect refused and continued running with Deputy Deleon close behind. An HEB store employee then assisted Deputy Deleon by giving him a ride in his vehicle and they continued following the suspect. Shortly thereafter, Deputy Deleon exited the vehicle and again continued his foot pursuit of the suspect. The suspect was eventually cornered by Deputy Deleon in a private driveway where the suspect was ordered at gunpoint to surrender. The suspect complied and was immediately handcuffed and searched. Deputy Deleon recovered the white plastic bag from the suspect and it was found to contain all the US currency that had been stolen from the store. Deputy Deleon then walked the suspect back to the HEB store and waited for a transporting unit to arrive at the scene. Deputy Deleon responded decisively and quickly after being advised of the robbery and the identity of the suspect. His effort in immediately engaging in a foot pursuit of the suspect resulted in the successful and safe apprehension of the suspect. Deputy Deleon is commended for the exemplary performance of his duties. He is a credit to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens we serve. Officer of the Month Officer Mike Garrett is a 17 year veteran of the Houston Police Department who has been assigned to the Major Offenders Division for the last six years. He has spent time in Patrol, Burglary and Theft and is a member of the Hostage Negotiation Team. Officer of the Month
Honoring HPD Officer
Catheryn Y. Gardner In April of 2000, an anonymous caller notified Children’s Protective Services that a nineteen-month-old child who had been life-flighted to Memorial Hermann Hospital was intentionally injured. The alleged child abuse case was assigned to HPD Juvenile Division’s Officer Catheryn Gardner for investigation. Officer Gardner contacted the hospital social worker and was informed that the child had been injected with an inordinate amount of insulin that ultimately resulted in brain damage. Coupled with the discovery of a bruise surrounding a needle mark, Officer Gardner filed charges of Injury-to-a-Child against the mother. Upon further investigation, the officer learned that the mother had several children who she repeatedly took to area hospitals. During one of her children’s hospital stays, a nurse found that caffeine had been put in the child’s intravenous tube. Officer Gardner thus recognized signs of Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy, a condition whereupon a parent continually takes a child to a doctor or hospital to gain attention. Officer Gardner also discovered that one of the siblings had died in 1993, but when she checked with the Harris County Medical Examiner’s Office, the cause of death was listed as Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In her determination to pursue justice, Officer Gardner traveled on her own time to San Antonio, Texas, to garner additional information and support. She then contacted an attorney successful in prosecuting Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy cases to guide her efforts in having the autopsy reexamined. In May of 2002, the body was exhumed and another autopsy was performed. As a result of the new information, the child’s death was ruled as a homicide. Since that time, the mother has been indicted for murder. Because of Officer Gardner’s determination, thoroughness, and dedication to the welfare of children, two other siblings will be protected from possible harm by their mother’s hand. Officer of the Month
Honoring Sergeant
Roger E. Gunnells (M) As a supervisor in the Houston Police Department’s Burglary and Theft Division, Sergeant Roger Gunnells rarely encounters an opportunity to save lives. However, on January 22, 2003, while working extra employment at Christus St. Joseph Hospital, Sergeant Gunnells placed his own safety at risk to save the life of a distraught patient. The patient, a young woman, was brought to the hospital after losing consciousness during her sentencing in an assault case upon a police officer from an earlier suicide attempt. After arriving at the emergency room, the woman left the area and went to a second floor patio, climbed over the ledge, and sat on a metal awning that extended approximately four feet from the building at a 45 degree angle. The slippery surface and steep angle would make any rescue attempt a dangerous one. Sergeant Gunnells first attempted to verbally encourage her to return to the patio, but instead, the woman moved closer to the edge. Fearing that the woman was about to fall to her death, the sergeant cautiously climbed over the railing and onto the awning. He took hold of the woman’s arm but she resisted and tried to pull away from him. As he struggled to keep her from sliding over the edge, Sergeant Gunnells slipped and fell onto his side. Although lying across the awning in a precarious position, he maintained a firm grasp on the woman’s arm. Moments later, a hospital security officer assisted the sergeant in pulling the woman to safety. Sergeant Gunnells displayed determination and courage in a dangerous rescue that ultimately saved the life of a young woman Officer of the Month
Honoring Deputy
Louise Skinner (l) On May 7, 2003, Deputy Louise Skinner received the Correctional Officer of the Year Award from the American Jail Association. This award was presented to her at the Annual Banquet during the American Jail Association’s 22nd Annual Training Conference and Jail Exp in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Deputy Skinner began her career with the Sheriff’s Office twenty-eight years ago with twenty-six of those years being assigned to the booking division. Her knowledge of booking procedures is vast and her experience has proven invaluable in the training of deputies and her contributions in making the division function smoothly. Deputy Skinner, who was the fourth black female deputy sheriff hired in the history of the department, began her first assignment at the old 301 San Jacinto Jail under former Sheriff Jack Heard. Deputy Skinner has been a member of the honor guard for almost twenty years and also has her Master Peace Officer License and Instructor’s certificate. In 1991, she received an Honorable Mention at the 100 Club Annual Banquet and in 1997 received the award of Female Officer of the Year and Mentor form the Texas Women in Law Enforcement. Deputy Skinner was born and raised in La Marque, Texas and graduated for Lincoln High School in May of 1964. Her husband, Isaiah Skinner, has been employed by Metro for almost twenty years and they have a nine-year-old daughter, Javon. Deputy Skinner is active in her church and is on the Janet King Cancer Committee for the Cancer Society. Her dedication and desire in being the best she can be has truly been an asset not only to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office but also to the citizens that the Sheriff’s Office serves. Officer of the Month
Honoring Houston
Police Officer Pamela M. Slater (r). Our honoree this month was HPD Officer Pamela M. Slater. On August 17, 2002, Officer Slater was stopped by a citizen who stated that an apartment was on fire in the 9000 block of Kempwood. Officer Slater called the fire department from her cellular phone and ran in the direction of the apartment. As she approached the apartment, Officer Slater pounded on the doors of adjacent apartments to alert residents of the emergency. When she reached the burning apartment, Officer Slater felt the intense heat radiating through the door. Having knocked with no response, she grasped the doorknob and found the door unlocked. As she cautiously pushed open the door, dense smoke swirled towards her, obscuring her vision as she stepped inside. As the officer moved deeper into the apartment, she vaguely saw what appeared to be a white sock extending from the couch. She reached down and felt the body of the resident who had fallen asleep. Unable to waken the man, Officer Slater relie on neighbors to help her carry him outside to safety. Once outside, the man was quickly revived. HFD arrived and extinguished the fire, thereby limiting the damage to the apartment’s kitchen and living room and the apartment located below. The fire started in the kitchen where the man had begun cooking and had fallen asleep on the couch waiting for it to finish. Officer Slater is no stranger to fires. In 1996, she and her partner successfully rescued a man from his burning vehicle just as it became totally engulfed in flames. Officer Slater’s quick and decisive actions have saved more than one life. Her genuine concern for the safety of citizens and willingness to place her own safety at risk is a testimony to her dedication. The Chapter awarded Officer Slater a plaque in appreciation of her dedication and professionalism. Officer of the Month
Honoring Houston
Police Sergeant Russell L. Miller (l) On March 22, 2003, shortly after 11 p.m., Sergeant Russell Miller was traveling in the 500 block of the North Loop East when he saw what appeared to be a large pile of burning garbage between the service road and freeway. When he realized that it was a crumpled hulk of a vehicle involved in a single-car accident, Sergeant Miller feared that the driver might still be inside. He contacted 911, and cautiously approached to find the driver alive and partially conscious. Since the vehicle’s left front wheel was crushed into the driver’s compartment where the driver’s legs would be positioned, Sergeant Miller knew it could be difficult to extract the victim. While the flames edged closer, Sergeant Miller climbed into the rear passenger seat, took hold of the victim, but could not move him as the man’s lower body was pinned in the wreckage. Refusing to give up, Sergeant Miller instructed the citizens who had gathered at the scene to locate fire extinguishers or water. One citizen produced a fire extinguisher that proved ineffective against the flames, while other citizens used crowbars and large tools to break windows and tear away the twisted metal. With little time to spare, a citizen handed the sergeant a half-full, five-gallon bucket of water he had gotten from a nearby store. Sergeant Miller threw the water on the fire and it momentarily quelled a portion of it. The sergeant called for more buckets which were then ferried to the scene by several citizens. As a result of their efforts, the flames were brought under control until the fire department arrived. After the fire was extinguished, the doors were cut away and the victim was removed and transported to the hospital with massive head and body injuries. Because of the courageous and determined actions of Sergeant Miller, and the valuable assistance of the citizens who stopped and gave aid, a man’s life was spared. Officer of the Month
Honoring Houston Police Officer
T. A. Harris (r) Officer T. A. Harris displayed exceptional courage in dealing with a distraught suspect who was threatening suicide. Because of his unselfish actions, Officer Harris was able to take the suspect into custody without further injury to any other citizens, officers, or even to the suspect himself. Officer Harris responded to a suspicious male call at 8700 Gustine Lane, an apartment complex. Officer Harris located the suspect, who was kneeling on the sidewalk and holding a large knife to his throat. The suspect, who approximately 30 minutes earlier had stabbed his girlfriend, was extremely upset. After talking with the suspect for an extended period of time to no avail, Officer Harris determined that immediate action was necessary. The suspect was momentarily distracted by other officers at the scene, which afforded Officer Harris the opportunity to kick the knife away from the suspect. The suspect was then transported to Ben Taub Hospital for further evaluation, and upon his release was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Officer of the Month
Honoring Houston Police Officer
Scott C. Girard (l) On Sunday, February 3, 2002, Officer Scott C. Girard, while off-duty, was traveling in the 800 block of the North Sam Houston Parkway East. He was returning to his house, at approximately 3 a.m., when he came upon a three-car pile-up. This tragic accident resulted in the deaths of three people and injury of four others. Officer Girard was the first person to drive up on the accident. No medical or law enforcement units had yet arrived. Officer Girard used his personal police radio to notify the HPD Northeast dispatcher of the accident and to request an ambulance. He then positioned his personal vehicle in such a way that it would not also contribute to a continuation of the accident. Officer Girard located a victim, unconscious and not breathing. Although this victim was lying on the roadway, the vehicles were scattered across the various lanes of traffic, causing traffic to stop. Officer Girard took advantage of this situation to provide first responder care to the unconscious victim without unduly placing his own life in danger. An unknown citizen assisted Officer Girard by wiping the blood from the face of the victim. Officer Girard then performed CPR on the victim, reviving him.. Harris County Sheriff's deputies and Houston Fire Department ambulances soon arrived and transported the victims to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Officer Girard followed up on the condition of the victim on whom he had performed CPR. The victim, who was later identified as Mr. Emil John Matura III, was treated at the hospital and released by Sunday afternoon. Thanks in large part to the quick thinking and unselfish actions of Officer S. C. Girard, the life of Mr. Matura was preserved. Officer Girard's actions bring great credit upon himself and upon the Houston Police Department. Officer Girard is scheduled to receive a Life Saving Award from the Houston Police Department on Wednesday, December 11, 2002, for acting above and beyond the call of duty in this incident. Officer of the Month
Honoring Houston Police Officer
Muzaffar H. Siddiqi (r) With the number of diverse communities within Houston, man citizens feel isolated and vulnerable because of the differences of language and customs. The Houston Police Department recognized that to better serve these citizens, it needs to provide personnel who can effectively communicate and relate through a common cultural bond. As a result, Chief C. O. Bradford appointed Officer Muzaffar Siddiqi as the department's Southeast Asian Liaison. Following a rash of violent robberies committed against Pakistani convenience store clerks, small business owners and citizens welcomed this ambitious and enthusiastic officer. To help communicate the department's safety messages and reduce the inherent suspicion that exists toward law enforcement, Officer Siddiqi conducted crime prevention seminars and attended community meetings. His efforts to amalgamate the Southeast Asian communities also extend to working with foreign dignitaries, coordinating training conferences, and assisting with National Night Out activities in these areas. But not all of Officer Siddiqi's contributions to the community are accomplished in his capacity as a police officer. Officer Siddiqi has contributed much of his own time and personal expense to assist with humanitarian efforts. When a powerful earthquake recently struck India, he was instrumental in coordinating the Houston relief effort for survivors. As of September 11, 2001, Officer Siddiqi has visite numerous mosques and temples in the area in an attempt to calm the peoples' fears of unwarranted retribution from fellow citizens. Acting in his appointed role, as well as on his own initiative, Officer Siddiqi serves as a multi-linguistic diplomat, and ambassador of American patriotism, in a time of sensitive international and domestic relations. Although his work is far from being done, he continues to nurture trust between the community and police so that isolation and suspicion, caused by language barriers and cultural differences, are reduced. Officer Siddiqi has been praised and recognized through countless letters of commendation from citizens, business and organization leaders, diplomats, and other law enforcement agencies. There is no doubt that his dedication, professionalism and core belief in humanity has made him a legend and friend to the community. Officer of the Month
Houston Police Officer Michael W. Iwasyk
(r) On June 26, 2002, at approximately 1:40 a.m., Officer Michael Iwasyk was at home when he heard a noise outside. Since his house and property border the San Jacinto River, he ran to the window, looked out into the darkness, and saw a person struggling in the water. Officer Iwasyk called emergency personnel and went for his water safety gear. Grabbing a flashlight and flotation devices, he raced out the door. Standing on the platform overlooking the water, the officer could see that the victim was now several yards down stream and caught in the swift current. Applying his training as a member of the HPD Lake Patrol Unit, he first attempted to direct the man to the shore by calling to him and using his flashlight. Officer Iwasyk then threw the flotation device to him, but the man was fatigued and disoriented that he had no strength to take hold of it. Putting on his lifejacket, Officer Iwasyk entered the water and swam toward the man who was now slipping beneath the surface. He reached the victim, took hold of him, and swam back to the platform. In all, Officer Iwasyk swam more than 175 yards, over half of which was against a swift current with a victim in tow. After the officer pulled the man onto the platform and hoisted him up a twelve-foot embankment, he assisted HFD personnel in reviving the victim. A person who attempts to save someone from drowning puts his own life in jeopardy because the victim has the ability to drown his rescuer. Officer Iwasyk exhibited extreme determination, strength and endurance under adverse conditions. |
