Each year the Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation honors the men and women of the LAPD Reserve Corps — reserve officers — at our Twice a Citizen Gala. They are recognized for their dedication and commitment as they work with the LAPD to protect and serve our citizens.
All reserve officers provide an invaluable service to the city of Los Angeles. However, each bureau in the LAPD acknowledges one reserve officer as the bureau Reserve Officer of the Year because his or her commitment to that bureau is so extraordinary that it must be formally recognized. The captain of each division nominates a Reserve Officer of the Year for their outstanding service during the previous year. Within each of the six bureaus, a bureau recipient is then chosen from those nominations, and all are presented at the Gala.
From the six bureaus, an official Reserve Officer of the Year is selected by the Chief of Police and the Command Staff to represent our entire Reserve Corps, and that selection is kept secret until the annual Gala. The winners who were honored this year are featured here. These biographies are reprinted from the Gala journal.
Specialized Divisions Reserve Officer of the Year: Warren Dern
Training Division nominates Reserve Police Officer I Warren Dern of the Firearms Training Section at Davis Training Facility.
Reserve Officer Warren Dern is an 11-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Reserve Officer Corps. Since joining the Department in 2012, Warren has balanced his busy personal career as an attorney with volunteering as many hours of service as possible as a reserve officer. Previous to joining the Department, he founded a law firm that exclusively deals with the entertainment industry, following in the footsteps of his father, legendary entertainment attorney Dixon Dern.
Warren excelled in the Reserve Police Academy, and after showing dedication and passion for police work, he was recruited to work the Tactics Unit of what was then the Firearms and Tactics Section. His firearms training abilities were noticed, and he was soon asked to assist in the Firearms Training Unit. Incorporating his knowledge from various classes on training and armorer certifications, in addition to his superb teaching and mentoring abilities developed through years of practicing law, Warren proved to be a true asset to Training Division’s Firearms Training Unit. Not satisfied, Warren further expanded his service to the Department and its communities through his tactical and firearms knowledge by working patrol loans in Rampart Division and West Los Angeles Division. To continue his desire for service, Warren then transferred to Devonshire Division, where he focused on volunteering his time to patrol operations for two years. Due to his enthusiastic and knowledgeable teaching style, as well as his ability to assist with armory gun repairs, Warren was asked to return to Training Division’s Firearms Training Section.
With shortages of training personnel, new Academy classes starting every month and a daily multiclass schedule of recruit officers being trained for firearms proficiency, Warren has consistently amassed an above-average amount of volunteer hours every deployment period and is an integral part of the Firearms Training Cadre. Reserve Officer Dern has shown a dedication to service by providing and upholding the quality of instruction that Training Division is known for.
For his selfless commitment to the Department and continued education of future and in-service personnel, Training Division would like to recommend Reserve Police Officer Dern for Reserve Officer of the Year.
Central Bureau Reserve Officer of the Year: Raymond Hastey
Hollenbeck Division nominates Reserve Officer Raymond “Britt” Hastey as the Divisional Reserve Officer of the Year for 2023. Since his completion of his Academy in 2019, he has chosen to be assigned to Hollenbeck. Reserve Officer Hastey dedicates his time and effort to working in a patrol capacity, protecting and serving those who live within the Hollenbeck community.
Reserve Officer Hastey is currently a college professor working at both UCLA and Los Angeles City College, teaching economics and finance. He is also the chair of the Business Administration Department at Los Angeles City College. In 2004, he received the award for Faculty Member of the Year. Officer Hastey recently coauthored his first book, Personal Finance for Musicians, in hopes of educating young artists about the importance of money and budgeting. Hastey had always been interested in becoming a police officer and once applied to the Department; however, at that time, he was at a crux in his life that took him into his academic career, where he received his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree.
Hastey’s call to serve never left him, and approximately 30 years later, he went on to complete the Reserve Officer Academy as a Reserve Police Officer Level I. His desire continues to be to help those who are most vulnerable, and to try and make a difference in the lives of those who call upon law enforcement for help. Reserve Officer Hastey has also completed the additional requirements to be UPR-certified and Benelli M4–certified, and is a member of the Benelli M4 Shotgun Slug Cadre. Along with patrol, he has also worked various crime suppression details, including the Violent Crime Task Force and the Business Corridor Theft Task Force.
Reserve Officer Hastey has demonstrated his dedication, bravery and unwavering desire to protect and serve the community. In recognition of this dedication, it is with great pride that Hollenbeck Division nominates him for Reserve Officer of the Year.
Valley Bureau Reserve Officer of the Year: Gary Krystof
LAPD Devonshire Division is honored to recognize Reserve Officer Gary Krystof as our Reserve Officer of the Year.
Gary became a sworn reserve officer in Academy Class 4-83R. After he joined the Devonshire roster, one of his first assignments was a 12-day assignment at USC for the 1984 Olympics. He worked the initial three years at Devonshire with IBARS (Immediate Booking at Release System) for DUI enforcement, which included working in several LAPD divisions within the city.
Gary served as the Baker to Vegas Motor Team coordinator from 1999 to 2009 (race officials on motorcycles). During this period, he was a member of the Baker to Vegas race staff. He was presented with the Bill Stein Sports Award by Maury Wills in 2002. In 2005, by request from Devonshire detectives, Gary served over 1,700 subpoenas for active cases going to court.
Gary has also deployed for immediate callup on many major events, including the Northridge earthquake, Metrolink train wreck, Sesnon fire, Sylmar/Sayre fire and Station fire (Angeles National Forest). In the past 41 years, Gary has received multiple uniform ribbons. When the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games came to Los Angeles and the flame traversed the country, Gary’s portion covered from Chicago to Spokane in 18 days, totaling 216 road hours.
Gary became a reserve officer because of his friendship with Officer Paul Verna, and he was in the Reserve Academy when Officer Verna was killed in the line of duty in 1983.
The role of reserve police officer is often overlooked, but it’s individuals like Gary who truly exemplify dedication, passion and commitment to serving their communities. Gary is truly one of a kind, and his commitment has been unparalleled. His retirement will be a huge loss to everyone who has worked alongside him throughout these years and in this community. He serves as an inspiration to others, exemplifying the core values of law enforcement and reminding us all of the importance of working together to create safer communities.
South Bureau Reserve Officer of the Year: Frank Camello
Reserve Officer Frank Camello commenced his dedicated service to the Los Angeles Police Department on October 28, 1991. Since his assignment to Harbor Area on February 5, 1992, Reserve Officer Camello has tirelessly served the Harbor community for over 32 years, embodying the essence of selfless commitment and unwavering dedication.
Throughout his tenure, Reserve Officer Camello has actively participated in a myriad of community events, including Christmas events, carnivals and street patrols, consistently demonstrating his steadfast devotion to fostering positive relationships within the community. His presence has been a source of reassurance and support, significantly contributing to the safety and well-being of Harbor residents.
Reserve Officer Camello’s exemplary service has not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by the 13 commendations he has earned during his tenure at Harbor Area. His exceptional performance, professionalism and dedication to duty serve as a testament to his outstanding character and unwavering commitment to excellence. Reserve Officer Camello epitomizes the qualities of leadership, commitment to service and dedication to community that are the hallmark of the Los Angeles Police Department. His exemplary conduct and tireless efforts make him an invaluable asset to the Department and a source of inspiration to his colleagues.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions and exemplary representation of the Los Angeles Police Department, Reserve Officer Frank Camello is a deserving candidate for the South Bureau Reserve of the Year and serves as a shining example of the Department’s core values.
West Bureau Reserve Officer of the Year: Benedict Park
Reserve Officer Pak has been serving at Olympic Division since 2018 and is a Certified Designated Level I. His tenure in the division encompasses diverse assignments ranging from Patrol to Vice, but his service does not end there.
Pak assumed the role of president of the Korean American Law Enforcement Organization (KALEO), where he advocates for hundreds of Korean American officers within LAPD and various law enforcement agencies across California. As KALEO’s president, he actively supports the Department’s objectives by hosting visiting delegations from the Korean National Police, thereby fostering international collaboration. In 2023, Reserve Officer Pak orchestrated a significant initiative by leading 16 Korean American officers as part of the KALEO/Korean National Police exchange program, aimed at promoting cooperation and mutual training opportunities between the two nations. These KALEO members visited South Korea as an authorized LAPD delegation.
Officer Pak spearheaded the West Bureau Citizens Academy at Olympic Station using only reserve officer facilitators, a first for LAPD. For a week during this 10-week program, Pak was with the delegation in South Korea, where he maintained follow-up on this academy to ensure instructors and participants remained engaged.
Furthermore, over the past two years, Reserve Officer Pak has engaged in collaborative efforts with the LAPD, lending his expertise in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) concerns. These collaborations have been instrumental in working alongside the Detective Bureau and Dr. Craig Uchida to develop a thorough curriculum focused on addressing issues related to Asian hate crime reporting and community outreach initiatives targeting the API community.
Officer Pak is the Reserve Officer of the Year for the Olympic Division because he has shown extreme dedication to the station, the Department as a whole and outreach to the community. As it is well known by our senior lead officers, if something is needed, Pak is the first call and a second call will not be necessary.