Seven local law-enforcement officers were honored Thursday by Los Angeles City Councilman Dennis Zine, who presented them with "Z Awards For ExZellence" in recognition of outstanding public service.
Zine, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and community leaders attended the lunchtime ceremony at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills, where awards were presented to the following officers:
Samuel Davis, an officer for the Los Angeles Police Department's Valley Traffic Division, who last year issued 2,778 traffic citations and impounded 221 vehicles.
Officer Gary Shanahan, a 30-year LAPD veteran who has been assigned to the West Valley Station since 1982. He was honored for his efforts to build relationships with local residents and developing strategies to fight crime.
LAPD Officer Dennis Cunningham, a 12-year veteran, who is an inaugural member of the gang-enforcement team for the Topanga Station. He also was credited for helping to identify and arrest a suspect in the brutal beating and sexual assault of a Woodland Hills woman.
Evelyn Solano, a senior lead officer for the Los Angeles Office of Public Safety, who patrols 83 parks and 13 libraries. In the course of her work, she has also arrested 10 misdemeanor suspects and written scores of parking citations.
Los Angeles fire Capt. Selwyn Lloyd, a veteran firefighter who also teaches at the East Los Angeles Fire Academy, is an instructor/counselor at the Reseda Fire Explorer Post and is a counselor/youth instructor with the West Valley Willing Worker Program.
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Joseph Cerda, who made nearly 700 arrests last year while on patrol for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in the San Fernando Valley. Several of the arrests were for narcotics- and weapon-related violations, and he also seized large amounts of narcotics during traffic and pedestrian stops.
California Highway Patrol Officer Jeff Ferber, who serves on the FBI's Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement team that investigates suspected child predators. The team recently completed a "sting" that resulted in a dozen convictions. Ferber is also a former recipient of a Medal of Valor.
