More than 800 LVMPD officers, staff, community, and business leaders attended the 10th Annual “Sheriff Salutes the Best of the Badge Gala” hosted by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation. The event was held on Friday, October 20 at Wynn Las Vegas and raised more than $800,000 to support and supplement the Foundation’s programs and community engagement initiatives.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill paid tribute to 57 outstanding LVMPD officers whose courageous actions saved lives of innocent citizens and fellow officers. The evening featured dramatic and sometimes harrowing stories that earned heroic officers a commendation for embodying the Best of the Badge.
Best of the Badge represents LVMPD’s highest honors. Awards include Medal of Honor, Preservation of Life, Purple Heart, Unit Medal of Valor, and Medal of Valor.
Medal of Honor recipients included Officers Alejandro Alfaro-Pineda, Jordan Byers, Jahmaal Crosby, Kimberly Guzman-Alvarado, Tate Nelson, and Rocky Roman.
Officers Alfaro-Pineda, Guzman-Alvarado and Roman were recognized for their response to a family disturbance call in which a suspect was in possession of a large butcher knife. The officers were able to secure the knife without use of deadly force.
Officer Byers and Nelson were acknowledged for their response to a deadly domestic violence call. When officers arrived, the suspect approached them with a knife. Officers Byers and Nelson successfully stopped him, preventing further loss of life.
Officer Crosby was recognized for his decisive action to save the lives of his fellow officers and residents when a suspect pointed an armed shotgun at responding police officers.
Preservation of Life recipients included: Sergeants Ronald Hornyak, Karl Knowles, and Jayme Nordstrom, and Officers Adam Arko, Joseph Bowers, Nicole Brown, Anthony Calleja, Cejay Ceniza, Eric Chambray, Garrett Connell, Vincent Diasparra, Michael Gomez, Dell Griffith, Gregory Holotik, Raymond Hunter, Earnest Jefferson, Miguel Leal Zuniga, Jeffrey LaMarbre, Fritz Mijares, Mitchell Neddo, Brandon Noone, Jeannette Salas-Chavez, Theodore Schaefer, Anthony Seitz, David Tangren, Robert Voodre, Humberto Zarate, and Patrick Zarate.
Unit Medal of Valor recipients included: Sergeants Homan Lam and Jacob Longwell, and Officers Leon Chaves, Antonio Chavez, James Close, James Corbett, Grayson DePaulis, Christian Espinoza Ramirez, Kairo Flores, Alfred Garcia, Ramon Hiestand, Jesus Jimenez, Jonathan Kalas, Austin Lea, Kyle Nushkin, Chad Palmira, Rockney Ricafrente, Kevin Roundy, Alexandra Shott, Gideon Solomon, and Karli Theobald.
The Medal of Valor was presented to Officer Ryan Gillihan. Officer Gillihan put his own life in harm’s way, firing back at the suspect attempting to stop him. Officer Thai was posthumously honored with the Memorial Plaque, Purple Heart, and Medal of Valor.
The Purple Heart, Medal of Valor was presented to Officer Tierney Tomburo for sustaining bodily injury through hostile actions of a suspect. Severely injured, Officer Tomburo mortally wounded the suspect and performed her duties at great risk to her own safety.
Sergeant Douglas King, Officer Philip Closi and Officer Edward Contreras, who succumbed to COVID-19, were posthumously recognized with Memorial Plaques.
“Sheriff’s Honors”, a new commendation, was awarded to two individuals. Regina Coward-Holman received the Regina Coward Community Policing Award and Chief Administration Officer James Kilber received Best of Staff.
“The Foundation is honored to host Best of the Badge to recognize the men and women who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty,” said Karen Marben, Executive Director of the LVMPD Foundation. “A heartfelt thank you to our civic-minded businesses whose continual sponsorships support the Foundation’s dedication to community safety and recognition of our officers.”
