Honor Guard Participates in Memorial Ceremony

Santa Cruz Police Department Honor Guard members joined thousands of police officers and families  in Sacramento this week for the California State Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony.  The ceremony took place near the state capitol building. Last year, the number of officers killed in the line of duty increased by 14 percent nationwide.

 

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/03/4462031/three-memorial-events-in-sacramento.html#storylink=cpy

Santa Cruz Police Officers Chris Vigil and Eileen Fincutter Recognized for Outstanding DUI Enforcement Efforts by OTS and MADD

Santa Cruz Police Officers Chris Vigil and Eileen Fincutter were recognized today at an award ceremony in Monterey for their DUI enforcement efforts.  This is the second consecutive year that Officer Chris Vigil has been recognized and honored for this achievement.  The recognition ceremony was a collaborative effort by the State of California Office of Traffic Safety and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  The ceremony honored police officers from around the Central Coast for taking impaired drivers off of our streets and saving innocent lives that may have otherwise been lost when these impaired drivers become involved in deadly traffic collisions. 

Officers Vigil and Fincutter were among 28 honorees from Santa Cruz County law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol, Capitola Police, Scotts Valley Police, Watsonville Police, Santa Cruz Police and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.  In addition to the honorees from Santa Cruz County, there were 39 honorees from Monterey and San Benito County law enforcement agencies.  

This was a heartfelt ceremony that included a very sad testimonial by MADD Assistant State Executive Director Brenda Frachiseur who lost her uncle in a horrific drunk driving accident when she was very young.  We are honored to have Santa Cruz Police officers Chris Vigil and Eileen Fincutter among the 67 honorees from the Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito Tri-County area.  Please join the entire staff of the Santa Cruz Police Department in congratulating Officers Chris Vigil and Eileen Fincutter.

SCPD Honor Guard Selections

The Santa Cruz Police Department announced the addition of two officers to the agency's Honor Guard. Officer Alec Ganzel and Officer Chris Vigil are the newest additions to the department's voluntary team. Both these members are military veterans and took part in the City's Veteran’s Day recognition with the Honor Guard in 2011.  This was the first ceremony of its kind in the City of Santa Cruz.  Over the years, the team has participated in multiple ceremonies representing the department including Cookies for Courage (9-11 remembrance), the annual Peace Officers’ Memorial Day in Sacramento, the passing of law enforcement officers and the chief's investiture. The team is led by Lt. Larry Richard. Here is a photo from last year of the team.