Press Releases
Every year in May, the San Angelo Police Department honors their employees and volunteers who best exemplify the spirit of public service and outstanding service to the organization during the past year.
Aside from fourteen awards categories, Chief's Special Awards are given to those who, because of their extra effort or participation, have made the mission of the San Angelo Police Department more attainable.
In early spring, employees are invited to nominate fellow co-workers for consideration in each respective category. After the nomination deadline, the Department's Meritorious Conduct Board meets to discuss the nominees before selecting the winners.
This year's awards recipients are:
? Patrol Supervisor of the Year: Sergeant Chris Cimino
? Patrol Officer of the Year: Officer Adrian Castro
? Rookie of the Year: Officer Keith Lane
? Investigative Supervisor of the Year: Sergeant Todd Dornhecker
? Investigator of the Year: Detective Hank Hethcock
? Support Services Supervisor of the Year: Public Safety Communications Supervisor Linda Waller
? Support Services Officer of the Year: Officer Tom Daniel
? Civilian Employee of the Year: CSI Tech Terri Adams
? Communications Officer of the Year: Sarah Bates
? Community Service Award: Detective Travis Griffith
? Reserve/Retiree Officer of the Year: Officer Jimmie Byrne
? Volunteer of the Year: Police Chaplain Scott Cotton
? Overall Officer of the Year: Officer Adrian Castro
? Life Saving Awards: Officer Jeff Fisher, Officer Charles Flores, and Officer Travis McGee
? Chief's Special Awards: Intel Specialists Shawna Hitchcock and Heather Maier, and V.I.P.S. Members Armando Vasquez and Tom Bright
***SAPD***
A 41-year-old San Angelo woman was arrested last night after police find narcotics at her feet.
Just after 10:30 p.m. last night, Sector 1 Patrol Officers A. Dietz along with APO A. Click conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the 1400 block of Guadalupe Street.
As the officers were attempting to identify the vehicle's occupants, the female passenger began searching her immediate area for her identification. During her search, the woman reached for an item on the floorboard near her feet, and as she did this, police observed a baggy that was consistent with the ones used to carry narcotics.
A field test of the bag's contents tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately .8 grams. Police also located drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, near the passenger seat.
The passenger was identified as Tracy R. Waldo (AKA Flanary DOB 06-26-72). Waldo was arrested and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance Penalty Group 1, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two outstanding City Warrants.
The male driver was released at the scene.
***SAPD***
On May 12, 2014, at approximately 11:15 p.m., Sector 1 Patrolman C. Schneider conducted a traffic stop on a 1999 Ford Mustang in the area of E. 32 and Travis Street for expired registration.
When Officer Schneider approached the driver's side door of the Mustang, he smelled the odor of marijuana coming from inside and assisting Officer T. Lopez observed marijuana in plain view upon his approach to the passenger side.
The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Michael A. Meza (DOB 02-09-80) of San Angelo, was placed under arrest. A records search for Meza showed he had an outstanding Blue Warrant for Parole Violation.
During a search of the vehicle, officers located 2 handguns and a rifle, various ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and approximately 14 ounces of marijuana. It was also discovered that the expired registration sticker was registered to a different vehicle.
Meza was transported to the Tom Green County Jail and charged with Displaying Wrong Fictitious Registration, Parole Violation, State Jail Felony Possession of Marijuana, and Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Felon.
***SAPD***
Recently, three members from the San Angelo Police Department's Pistol Team traveled to Charleston, South Carolina to compete in the 2014 Palmetto State Pistol Match.
This year's match was comprised of sixty officers from around the nation, including South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, New York, and Florida.
Officers Brandon Farris, Brian Gesch and Sergeant Rusty Herndon received first place accolades in following categories:
Brandon Farris
1st Place Classified Class
Distinguished semi- auto
1500 semi-auto
Off-duty
Service revolver
Dist revolver
1500 revolver
1500 aggregate (Combined scores from 1500 Revolver and Semi-Auto)
Grand aggregate (Combined scores from all matches)
Brian Gesch
1st Place
Grand aggregate sharpshooter.
Off-duty match marksman.
Stock semi auto marksman.
Rusty Herndon
1st Place
1500 Semi-auto Marksman class
1500 Aggregate (Combined 1500 Revolver and Semi-auto) Sharpshooter class
Team members raised the competition's entry fees and travel expenses through various fundraising events. Several more fundraisers have been planned as the Team gears up to compete in the National Police Shooting Championship scheduled for September of this year in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For information on the upcoming event, contact Sgt. Rusty Herndon at 325-657-4342.
[Photo left to right: Stu Snowden, Randy Hanson, David Lahah, Rusty Herndon, Brian Gesch, and Brandon Farris. Snowden, Hanson and Lahah, additional first place winners from the match, work for the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision]
***SAPD***
San Angelo Police were called to investigate two separate fatality crashes late last night and early this morning.
Just before midnight last night, May 10, 2014, San Angelo Police were dispatched to the 1400 block of S. Abe Street for the report of a major crash involving a vehicle and pedestrian. Upon arrival, officers located the pedestrian who appeared to be suffering from life-threatening injuries.
The man, who was not carrying identification at the time of the incident, was transported to Shannon Medical Center by ambulance for treatment. Technicians with the SAPD's Crime Scene Investigations Unit were eventually able to verify the victim's identity through fingerprint analysis. 55-year-old San Angelo resident Ruben Holguin later succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased by hospital physicians at approximately 12:38 a.m. this morning.
The crash investigation indicates Holguin was attempting to cross S. Abe Street from east to west near Avenue J when he was struck by a 2004 Toyota 4Runner that was traveling southbound on S. Abe Street. The driver, a 55-year-old San Angelo resident, was not injured in the crash.
Just after 1:00 a.m. this morning, officers responded to the 4100 block of W. Loop 306 for the report of a major crash involving a motorcycle. Upon arrival, officers located the motorcycle's male operator, deceased. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace, Kay Longest and identified as 36-year-old San Angelo resident, Christopher Perez.
A preliminary crash investigation indicates Perez was traveling on the loop near the Desert Shadows Apartments when he lost control of his 2001 Harley Davidson motorcycle, causing it to leave the roadway and collide with a guardrail. Perez was ejected from the motorcycle, which continued to travel across Loop 306 and between the medians before coming to rest near the Lowe's Home Improvement store. Speed was determined to be the contributing factor in the crash. Police were unable to locate a helmet at the crash site.
Both crashes were investigated by the Department's on-call Motors Officers with assistance from Patrol and CSI. Oncoming traffic was closed at both crash sites for several hours to allow for the investigations.
There is no further information at this time.
***SAPD***