“Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”
U.S. President John F. Kennedy is often remembered by these words, but he is less often remembered for his establishment of Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.
In 1962, the 35th president of the United States signed a proclamation establishing the first Peace Officer’s Memorial Day on Monday, May 14, of that year.
“It was designated that way, in his words, to pay tribute to law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country,” Centralia Police Chief Andy Caldwell said Tuesday evening during a city council meeting. “And to voice our appreciation for all those who currently serve on the front lines of the battle against crime.”
Today, we celebrate Peace Officers Memorial Day every year on May 15, and that week bears the name and honor of Police Week.
In a late celebration of the honorary day, Centralia Police Department officers and their families crowded the Centralia City Council chambers and the entry way outside during the Centralia City Council meeting this week as the department honored the most accomplished and dedicated members of its team.
Caldwell led the proceedings, first by reminding attendees of the importance of Police Week and the sacrifice of the country’s many law enforcement officers.
The chief recognized 14 officers and one group of dedicated volunteers during the meeting. Among the honors, he announced two recipients of the Medal of Distinction to recognize acts of personal bravery that did not fall within the guidelines to be awarded a Medal of Valor.
With the last awards of the night, Caldwell called up Detective Mitchell King and Officer Deter Voetberg to the front of the room to recognize their service in the line of duty. The bravery and performance of King and Voetberg, according to Caldwell’s account, saved the life of a suicidal suspect and protected others from the person’s dangerous actions.
“What I want to note is that we don't give these out very often,” Caldwell said. “When you break it all down, what these officers and detectives did, it is quite remarkable.”
In August of last year, Voetberg and King were two of many local and state officers who responded to reports of a man with a gun near the railroad tracks and the Chehalis Mattress Ranch store. The incident, which occurred during the Southwest Washington Fair, closed both lanes of nearby Interstate 5.
According to Caldwell's account during the meeting, Voetberg was the first officer to locate the suspect on that day and attempted to communicate with them before eventually deploying a “less lethal 40 millimeter impact weapon” in an attempt to subdue the suspect. It unfortunately failed.
After that, King, who had taken a strategic position atop a nearby train car with a rifle, shot the suspect, hitting him in the arm. The suspect was immediately treated and taken into custody.
“This seemed like it was going to have no safe resolution, unless somebody stepped in to use tactics, to use logic, to use whatever way possible to bring it to a safe resolution,” Caldwell said. “He's still alive today because of their actions. He'll be held accountable for what he did, but he's held accountable because of these officers.”
King and Voetberg each received a medal and ribbon bar to be worn on their uniforms in recognition of their bravery.
For reporting from The Chronicle on the August incident, visit https://tinyurl.com/3cat2ky9.
Before the most coveted of the honors, Caldwell awarded many others with awards for Employee of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Life Saving Service and longevity within the department.
The department awarded the local Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) for their work in the community, helping the department direct traffic during parades and ensuring the officers always have a steady line of communication.
“It is because the volunteers that dedicate, literally yearly, thousands of hours to our department to maintain training that they can be proficient, that they can do all those tasks for us,” Caldwell said.
The department awarded two Employee of the Year awards, one for non-commissioned employees and the other for commissioned employees. Community service officer Cassandra Granger received the former of the two awards for always going “the extra mile.” Detective Sergeant Chad Withrow received the latter of the two awards for leadership and “investigative expertise” in his role both as a detective and team leader managing three other detectives in the department.
Caldwell presented the Life Saving Award to Sergeant Michael Barela for his actions in saving the life of a man who was struck by a train in the Centralia area. According to Caldwell’s account, Barela used a tourniquet to tie off the man’s leg after he was run over by a train, preventing the man from losing more blood and probably his life.
Evidence technician Karen St. Clair and Sergeant Patricia Finch received the Meritorious Service Award. St. Clair received the award for her service in managing evidence ranging from clearing out unusable items to building relationships that allow the department to receive more revenue from rare impounded cars.
Finch was awarded in recognition of her impact on the department’s responses to domestic violence. According to Caldwell, the department staved off reductions to domestic violence funding, unlike most other departments. He credited Finch for that success.
“It wasn't being reduced for us, because Sergeant Finch does so much effort, or so much work, in supporting victims of domestic violence, that they actually gave us our full grant amount,” Caldwell said.
Four officers were recognized for reaching five-year service milestones. Officer Julie Jacobo received recognition for five years of service, Sergeant Alan Hitchcock and officer Andrew Huerta each received recognition for 10 years of service, and officer Adam Haggerty was recognized for 15 years of service.
Huerta, Haggerty and Voetberg all received letters of recognition for their service along with officer Alex Alvarenga, officer Alan Bowers and officer Daniel Cox.
Officers Alvarenga and Bowers each also received certificates of commendation for their service.
