Congratulations & Happy Retirement To Four SCPD Officers

The Santa Cruz Police Department on Thursday said goodbye to four retiring officers whose combined service to the city is 81 years.

Pictured left to right: SGT Azua, Ofc Abarca, SGT Harms & Ofc Guerrasio

In a farewell at Police Headquarters attended by dozens of fellow officers and family, the SCPD staged a final radio broadcast and roll call for the departing officers. Sergeant Michael Harms retires after 22 years of service; Sergeant Bill Azua retires after 24 years of service; Officer Dominic Guerrasio retires after 27 years of service, and Officer Thomas Abarca retires after 8 years of service.

These are four professionals with a lot of experience. "This is a good day for the retirees and we are rich with a positive legacy they leave behind for the department. We thank them and their families. Their retirements are well-deserved", said Chief Mills.

Police Sergeant Michael Harms, Badge 120, retires after 22 years of service. Sergeant Harms started his career as a Santa Cruz Police Officer in the Operations Division working patrol. He served in the Traffic Division, in SWAT, as Honor Guard, and as a Field Training Officer. He worked in Investigations, as a Detective and finished as the Persons Crimes Sergeant.

Sergeant Harms earned the rank of Police Sergeant in 2006 and worked both Operations assignments, which included Patrol and Community Service Patrol. He was instrumental in implementing the Department's first volunteer program and coordinated the first Teen Academy.

Sergeant Bill Azua, Badge 107, retires after 24 years of service.
Sergeant Azua began his career with the Santa Cruz Police Department on January 23,1995 as a Patrol Officer in the Operations Division. Bill has served on the Beach Team, Neighbor Enforcement Team, the Downtown Unit, in the Narcotic Enforcement Task Force and as a Field Training Officer for over 10 years. He worked extensively investigating various gangs and served on the Heroin Task Force. He also served as the homeless shelter liaison, wrote over 300 search warrants, and taught at the Departments Citizen Police Academy for 18 years.

Sergeant Azua was promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant in 2015 and worked as a Patrol Sergeant, Parks Sergeant and as a Neighborhood Policing Team Sergeant.

Officer Dominic Guerrasio, Badge 163, who is retiring after 27 years of service. Officer Guerrasio first worked at the Police Department as a Community Service Aide. Dominic was hired as a Police Officer and graduated from the Police Academy in 1992. He started his journey as a Santa Cruz Police Officer in the Operations division working Patrol.

Officer Guerrasio was assigned to the Traffic Unit twice and served as a Trainer and Motor Vehicle Collision Investigator for numerous years. Guerrasio wrapped up his career as a Field Training Officer. 

Officer Thomas Abarca served the city of Santa Cruz for 8 years and also served our country in the Marine Corps. Officer Abarca retires today due to an injury.

On behalf of the men and women of the Santa Cruz Police Department, we thank you for your many years of exemplary service to the people of Santa Cruz, and to the Santa Cruz Police Department. Your service has made a difference in the City of Santa Cruz. The SCPD family express its best wishes to you for a fulfilling and well-deserved retirement.

Congratulations and all the best in your future endeavors.

Not So Secret SCPD Santa

While enforcement may be the most visible part of our job, it is not the only component of keeping a community safe.  Everyday our SCPD team reaches out with acts of kindness that are not highlighted in the news. SCPD is proud of all of the community service provided by our team.

One example is that for many years Sergeant Bill Azua has been a “Secret Santa” to the community.  At Christmas and other times of the year, he is known for handing out gifts to many underprivileged children in our community. This year, he added another dimension to his holiday projects. Sergeant Azua saw that some of our population living outside needed that show of kindness. He put into action a plan to get essentials to homeless people for staying warm and dry on some of our coldest nights.

Thanks to the support of three generous donors and a team of SCPD Officers "Elves", the Santa Cruz Police Department was able to meet the needs of a few truly homeless and less fortunate individuals.  As they encountered people throughout their shift, officers were able to hand out cookies, food vouchers, warm socks, gloves and rain ponchos to those in need on our recent cold nights.

SCPD offered the cold weather supplies and food voucher without any expectation other than to help these folks get through a cold night.

Sergeant Azua and his team of officers were greeted with handshakes and smiles of gratitude.

Sergeant Azua said, “Compassion is more than words, it is defined by action.  Sometimes our role calls for enforcement, while other times it calls for grace and meeting a need.”

Officer Howard-Gibbon "Elf" and Sgt. Azua "Santa"

Special thanks go out to our community partners who donated money and food for this special project.
Mandel Communication, Pacific Cookie Company and Joe's Pizza and Subs on Pacific Avenue. THANK YOU for your support!