Honoring their best

The Laguna Beach Police Department honored it’s officers and employees who have served the city with distinction at the annual Police Awards Breakfast Wednesday.

City leaders, friends and family, and even police chiefs from neighboring cities came to recognize the officers’ achievements at the Montage Resort & Spa event, which was sponsored by the Laguna Beach Exchange Club.

Ribbons of Merit were awarded for various feats of police work. They included officers who conducted drug busts and others who recovered stolen property and artifacts. Police Chief Michael Sellers said the honorees were representative of the department’s goals.

Cpl. Tony White was honored as Officer of the Year and Senior Animal Services Officer Joy Falk was named Civilian of the Year. The honorees are nominated and voted on by the whole department.

White “” a native of London “” has been with the department since 2000 and is in charge of keeping Laguna’s police up-to-date with the latest technology. He also keeps it working.

An animal lover, Falk has been with Animal Services for 25 years. She headed for the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina hit in order to help rescue animals that had been stranded away from their owners. She is organizing an animal rescue system in case of emergencies in Laguna Beach.

On top of the awards, both had another special moment at the breakfast.

The department recently made changes to its rank structure, adding the rank of corporal.

Officers who had held the rank of police officer received new badges to go with their new titles.

City Clerk Martha Anderson swore in the group of officers and family members pinned on their new badges.

Newly appointed Cpl. White had his pinned on by his son, Ethan. Falk pinned the badge on her husband, Cpl. John Falk.

Two officers new to the department took their oath to serve Laguna Beach as well.

Officer David Gensemer is a new recruit and Officer Rod McDonald is a veteran officer, newly arrived from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.