West Valley Police Sgt. Thomas L. McLachlan was honored by his peers as Officer of the Year during a department ceremony last week.
McLachlan accepted the honor during the 13th annual West Valley police awards banquet, sponsored April 27 by the West Valley Honorary Colonels Association. McLachlan and others were recognized for their commitment to public service.Lifesaving awards were given to McLachlan and officer Travis L. Pearce. Officers J. Bryan Shields, Jesus A. Castaneda and William F. McCarthy received medals of honor.
The department's Special Function Officers and Police Equestrian Team won unit citations, and 10-year safe-driving awards went to officers Brent L. Bracken, Joseph A. Iovino and Capt. Thayle B. Nielsen.
Two officers shared the Shooter of the Year award: Chad F. Evans and Kelly J. Rushton.
West Valley Police Chief Dennis Nordfelt was among those honored for five years of safe driving. Others included officers Lamar A. Burns, Alan G. Call, Mark D. Lorenz, Kelly J. Rushton, David S. Shopay and Michael S. Wells; Sgts. Lance M. Call, Gary W. Oliverson and Randall L. Pond; and Lt. Craig R. Gibson.
Certificates of Merit went to 21 West Valley officers and one Salt Lake County deputy sheriff: officers W. Loran Brumley, Alan G. Call, Armand Casanova, Terence Y. Chen, Tracy C. Cowley, Carl E. Dinger, Vince Garcia, Robert J. Idle, Kurt E. Imig, William F. McCarthy, Douglas L. Paulsen, John W. Pearce, Craig W. Petersen, William J. Salmon, David N. Shopay, Holly H. Wright; Sgts. Lynn A. Hanson, Gary W. Oliverson, Randall L. Pond; records supervisor Bonnie G. Harward, and Salt Lake County Deputy Sheriff Ken Eyre.
Restaurant owner Frank Boyer received the association's Citizen of the Year Award. For 13 years, Boyer has supplied the food and coordinated the Lagoon Day Feast for West Valley crossing guards. Boyer and his staff feed 2,000 people annually during Lagoon Day proceedings.