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Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty recognized three fire fighters from the Alameda County Fire Department and two deputies, one retired and one active, from the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office as the recipients of the 2010 Fire Fighter and the 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Awards at Haggerty’s 14th annual barbecue Friday night.
The annual event, part of Haggerty’s annual fundraising efforts, was held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds pavilion.
“I am humbled by the contributions and sacrifices, day in and day out, of our public safety personnel,” Haggerty said. “This award is a small, but heartfelt way that I can recognize these people for their work.”
Among those honored was Joe Davis of Pleasanton, who retired from the Alameda County Sheriff’s office Aug. 3, 1984 after serving 30 years as deputy sheriff. He joined the Sheriff’s office at the age of 24 after serving in the Navy during the Korean War. Over the years, he served in various roles including 16 years assigned to the County’s Santa Rita jail in Dublin. He worked at every courthouse in the county including serving as civil and criminal Marshall in charge of the Livermore-Pleasanton courts and at the Fremont Hall of Justice. Davis was the last constable to serve in Alameda County and his record reflects never having taken a single day of sick leave. After his retirement He also was active in the Alameda County Retired Deputy Sheriff’s Association with key roles organizing activities and events for its members over the years. Appointed by Haggerty, he also served on the County’s Advisory Commission on Aging.
One of two recipients of the 2010 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, Davis was recognized for his many years of distinguished service as well as his many contributions to Alameda County and the community, his work ethic and unwavering commitment to service.
The second Law Enforcement award recipient, Sheriff’s Deputy Derek Pope, is a 20-year veteran of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office currently assigned to the Airport Police Services at Oakland International Airport.
On March 21, 2009, Pope was on patrol when he and his partner responded to the “officer down call” on the day when two Oakland Police officers were shot during a routine traffic stop in the 74thAvenue and MacArthur Blvd area in Oakland. Two more Oakland SWAT team officers were killed in the attempt to apprehend the suspected killer.
Haggerty said that Pope’s years of experience include service with Special Ops in the U.S. Army, the Sheriff’s office as a firearms instructor, member of its Special Response Unit Team training in SWAT tactics and operations, and as a weaponry expert.
“These factored into Deputy Pope’s methodical actions in evaluating the situation and working with the Oakland Police SWAT team,” Haggerty said.
Haggerty said that Pope entered this dangerous situation without his SWAT gear, attired only in his regular patrol uniform and Kevlar vest.
Pope was recognized for his heroic actions in the course of a gun battle that successfully eliminated the continued threat of the suspect armed with a high-powered weapon. He also has been recognized by the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the National Sheriff’s Association for his valor during the call of duty.
The 2010 Fire Fighter of the Year Award recipients from the Alameda County Fire Department were Deputy Fire Chief Demetrious Shaffer, Captain Robert Bodnar, both formerly of the Newark Fire Department, and Captain John Whiting formerly of the Union City Fire Department. The Newark and Union City Fire Departments recently completed a merger with the Alameda County Fire Department.
Haggerty said Shaffer has moved through the ranks in fire service over the past 25 years starting as a reserve fire fighter with the city of Campbell before moving over to Newark. He was involved in advocacy for regional fire services before the merge and currently oversees fire services for the communities of Newark, Union City, Dublin and the Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories for Alameda County.
Captain Bodnar has been involved in fire service since his teen years as an Explorer Scout in Hayward, becoming an EMT in 1986 for Regional Ambulance before being hired by Newark Fire Department in 1986. He was promoted to captain in 1996 and was recognized as Newark’s Firefighter of the Year in 1996 and again in 2007.
Haggerty said Bodnar worked closely with the Newark City Council and management to ensure the merger between Newark and the Alameda County Fire Department was adopted and the transition a smooth one.
Captain John Whiting began his fire service in 2000 as fire fighter/paramedic with the Union City Fire Department. Prior to Union City, he was a reserve fire fighter with Alameda County and a paramedic with San Joaquin County.
In 2008 Whiting was selected as Union City’s Fire Fighter of the Year.
“Deputy Chief Shaffer, Captain Bodnar and Captain Whiting are being recognized for their service to their communities and for their vision and support to deliver service efficiently and effectively to Alameda County communities while preserving fire fighting jobs,” Haggerty said.
The Pleasanton City Council should butt the hell out. Take care of your own City business and stop trying to be like Obama and socialize everything. It’s private company business…”butt-out”.
May I remind you only 6 of the employees this affects live in Pleasanton. Four hundred members live in Pleasanton and we all want you to butt out. I might not be able to vote for you or against you but you can be sure that I will try to influence my friends.
Why is the Pleasanton City Council getting involved in a labor dispute – especially when Castlewood is not even located in the City? This seems another case where the Hippy Mayor, and liberals Cook-Callio and Sullivan, are trolling for more union campaign contributions – a repeat of their beating up on Wal-Mart because they are not unionized. It would be nice if the Hippy Mayor and the Council concentrated on fixing some of the problems with the City and less time being union lap dogs.
I don’t understand the rage of the club membership? Seems excessive?
Hopefully, it will become a win win situation and get settled soon.
Welcome to Europe, the City Council’s there decide what is best for your business, makes life easier doesn’t it? City fathers and mothers of the the Pleasanton City Council need to keep their noses out of ther private sector. Castlewood Country Club has been around for many years. I patronized it when it was the Old Hearst Ranch,they have demonstrated their ability to run a successful enterprise, let them negotiate with the labor, this issue is not City of Pleasanton business.
I noticed that Castlewood management posted job openings on craigs list for food and beverage workers on Monday so I called the HR Manager and asked her what the response was. She told me that she recieved 214 applications in 24 hours. I guess the pay an working conditions aren’t all that bad at Castlewood Country Club. Isn’t free enterprise a great thing. My vote is replace them all.
Great. What’s next for our city council. A resolution on Global Warming? A Nuclear Free designation?
Stop pontificating about problems that have nothing to do with you, and get back to the business of running the city. Our downtown is dying, our schools are broke, and you take sides in a labor dispute?
Time to be voted out.
As for the workers, apparently you didn’t get the memo. It is a recession, and there are 20 people behind you that would gladly take the job. If you don’t like it, quit. Unions have grown way too powerful in this state, and we are paying the price now with businesses leaving and slow job growth.
The People of Pleasanton really must replace the current Mayor and all council members but Cindy McGovern. Their priorities are really screwed up. Instead of sticking thier noses where they don’t belong or worrying about state and national politics, why don’t they worry about attracting employers to Pleasanton, figure out how not to be continually be on the losing end of lawsuits, figure out how not to continually be outmanuevered by Livermore, Dublin, San Francisco and Alameda County, improve traffic flow, fix the streets, address the lack of downtown parking?
This entire charade with butting into the Castlewood labor dispute was trolling for union campaign contributions.
This will not be a popular post. It seems that most people here are well enough off to belong to the country club. That’s good for you. The rest of us are not so lucky. As the rich get richer and the middle class continues to dwindle away, it’s starting to remind me of Mexico- a country of haves and have nots. Luckily for most of you, you won’t ever have to be concerned.
Of course you don’t like unions. You see them as taking money out of your pocket. But for the average worker, whether you are union or not, they have been a godsend. That’s the reason we have a 40 hour week (although as union membership decreases, so has the 40 hour week), livable wages, any health care at all (do you think if it was left up to the employer that health care would even be an option?), safe working conditions, etc.. These people are not getting rich because of their cushy union jobs- no union member I know has become rich from their job. All they want is to be able to live comfortably. They probably aren’t going to be country club members or drive fancy cars. I don’t think you do that on 12 dollars an hour no matter how good the tips are.
Thank you City Council for helping the two sides at least get back to talking and hopefully resolve this in a way that both sides win.
Casltewood Management and their 400 members are invited to attend the TAX Day T.E.A. Party at the Fairgrounds on April 15th. from 2-7pm (Entrance to the event is free). This special event will include: Speakers, Candidates, music and more! Enter through gate 8 which opens early 12:00 so people can visit booths and eat lunch.
Are you sick of BIG Government, High taxes, Candidates that don’t represent us? Then come out to the TAX Day T.E.A. Party at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds April 15th from 2-7pm.
I found this information at Pleasantonteaparty.com