Twice A Citizen Banquet

Tonight we honor our sworn Los Angeles Police Department reserve officers and specialist volunteers, and our Twice a Citizen community leaders.

Thousands of men and women have gone through the ranks of the LAPD Reserve Corps, now in its 68th year of serving our great city. After careful selection by the Department, we honor the Area/Division Reserve Officers of the Year, and announce the Bureau and Department Reserve Officers of the Year.

This year, we recognize City Council Member Tom LaBonge for his longstanding support of our city and our police officers. We also recognize Ira Reiner, president and CEO of the Homeland Security Advisory Council, dedicated to protecting this city. Prior to this role, he served in Los Angeles public office for over 15 years as City Controller, City Attorney and District Attorney. We present a well-deserved Andrea Friedman Award to retiring Assistant Chief Sandy Jo MacArthur, who has always gone above and beyond for the Corps. This past year, she steadfastly worked with the new Reserve Advisory Committee to bring very meaningful changes. We know Andrea would be proud!

It has, indeed, been a busy year. We have concentrated on funding the opportunities that especially matter to our reserve officers. This has included additional training that provides the tactical and perishable skills essential for officer safety. The Board provided funding for the first Simunitions/Firearms classes. This is great training that, due to budget constraints, has not otherwise been provided for our reserve officers.

The Los Angeles Police Reserve Foundation was awarded “Gold Participant” status by GuideStar in 2014, and GreatNonprofits.com selected the LAPRF as a “2014 Top-Rated Non-Profit.” This has been achieved by providing the information and reviews that philanthropic organizations and individuals need. A strong reputation has been an essential step in taking our Foundation — and its mission — to the next level.

The LAPRF is now part of the Ralph’s Grocery Store Community Rewards program. Tonight, we have a procedure in which you can easily select the Foundation as your charity of choice at no extra cost to you. Sign up and tell your friends; post it on Facebook or even tweet about it!

We thank all of our donors and supporters in these efforts.

Finally, we want to welcome our newly elected directors to the Board: Los Angeles City Council Members Joe Buscaino and Mitchell Englander. Their experience and expertise in city governance and public safety have already been invaluable in furthering our mission, and we thank them for accepting the position.

We look forward to continuing to work with Chief of Police Charlie Beck, the Command Staff and ROVU to support our Reserve Corps, which remains to this day the national standard for reserve law enforcement.

On behalf of the Board, we congratulate all of our honorees tonight. To our LAPD reserve officers and specialist volunteers: Thank you for your continued dedication to the Department and to our city. And to all of your families, a deeply sincere thanks for giving so much of you.

— Karla Ahmanson and Michael Sellars