Officer of the Year Raymond Cardenas, Jr., Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris, and Raymond Cardenas, Sr. at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Deputy Chief Art Chute at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Pasadena Police Chief Eugene Harris at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
United States Representative Judy Chu at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Premier Community Sponsor George Penner and Judy Penner at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Event Planner Ema Kessler, Pasadena Chief Communications Officer Lisa Derderian, and Event Planner Lieutenant Andrea Perez at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Kisha Wilkes, Explorer of the Year Nicole Booker, and Marquasha Kitchen at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Bob Sorenson, Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin, Finn Sorenson, Medal of Merit Awardee Trey Sorenson, and Connie Sorenson at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Medal of Merit Awardee Enrique Delgado and Jessie Frettlohr at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Veronica Carrillo, Camila Carrillo, Medal of Merit Awardee Jesus Carrillo, Ignacio Carrillo, and Rosa Carrillo at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Jasmine Park and Life-Saving Medal Awardee Justin Choe at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Gladys Martinez, Professional Staff Member of the Year Maribel Martinez, and Gabina Alcala at the 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony [Paul Takizawa/Pasadena Now]
Against a backdrop of applause, emotional video tributes and repeated reminders of a devastating night still fresh in the city’s memory, the Pasadena Police Department honored officers, firefighters, dispatchers, civilian employees and community members Wednesday during its 53rd Annual Police and Citizens Awards Ceremony at the Pasadena Convention Center.
More than 500 guests filled the ballroom for the late-afternoon ceremony, hosted by actor and disaster-relief advocate John Brotherton, whose remarks repeatedly returned to the January 2025 Eaton Fire and the actions of police officers and emergency personnel during the chaotic first hours of the disaster.
“Behind every badge is a story,” Brotherton told the audience. “Stories of courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to protecting others.”
Throughout the evening, department leaders emphasized the scale of the fire response and the split-second decisions made by officers and firefighters as flames swept through neighborhoods in Pasadena and Altadena.
Police Chief Gene Harris described the department’s response as “nothing short of incredible,” praising officers who voluntarily returned to duty as communications systems failed and evacuations intensified.
A central focus of the ceremony was the creation and presentation of several special recognitions tied directly to the Eaton Fire response, including Life Saving Medals, Medals of Merit and the newly established Eaton Fire Service Bar.
One of the evening’s highest honors went to Pasadena Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Trey Sorensen, who received a Life Saving Medal for his actions during the early hours of the fire. According to ceremony remarks, Sorensen — serving at the time as an arson investigator assigned to the Pasadena Police Department — made the critical decision to override an initial shelter-in-place order and coordinate evacuations with Pasadena police officers as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
“An action that ultimately saved hundreds of residents,” presenters said during the ceremony. Sorensen repeatedly entered dangerous conditions throughout the night, monitoring wind shifts and fire behavior while identifying neighborhoods requiring immediate evacuation.
More than 20 Pasadena officers also received Life Saving Medals for rescue and evacuation efforts during the fire, including Officer Eduardo Acosta, Officer Jessica Austin, Officer Raymond Cardenas Jr., Officer Jesus Carrillo, Officer Ryan Castillo, Lt. Monica Cuellar, Officer Alejandro Lueza, Officer Marshawn McIntosh and others who assisted residents trapped in smoke-filled neighborhoods and senior care facilities.
Additional Medal of Merit awards recognized officers, dispatchers, supervisors and civilian staff members for distinguished service during the crisis. Those honored included police dispatchers, park safety specialists, sergeants, corporals and administrative staff who helped coordinate emergency communications, evacuations and public safety operations as the fire spread.
The department also introduced the Eaton Fire Service Bar, created to honor personnel who served during what officials described as “the most critical and chaotic hours” of the disaster. Recipients included officers, supervisors, commanders and volunteers who responded during the initial emergency operations.
Alongside the fire recognitions, the ceremony honored years of service milestones, community partnerships and acts of heroism unrelated to the fire.
Officer Raymond Cardenas Jr. was named Officer of the Year for his narcotics investigations and firearm recoveries, while community awards recognized residents, local business owners and organizations that supported the department and broader Pasadena community throughout the year.
Among the evening’s service milestones, Officer Stephen Thurston was honored for 40 years of service.
Other years-of-service honorees included officers reaching 25-year, 30-year, and 35-year milestones. The 25-year recipients were Lieutenant Mathew Campeau, Lieutenant Sam De Sylva, Corporal David Duran, Corporal Paul McKinney, and Corporal Ryan Smith. The 30-year recipients were Sergeant David Llanes, Corporal Veronica Burris, and Sergeant Mark Mendenhall. The 35-year recipients were Sergeant Kimberly Baecker, PSA Lola Fyles, and Corporal Jack Preston II.
The ceremony also saw the Medal of Merit awarded to Officer Enrique Delgado, Officer Michael Bentley, and Officer Jesus Carrillo; the Bronze Life-Saving Medal to Officer John Calderon and Officer Justin Choe; and Professional Staff Member of the Year to Maribel Martinez.
The Jim Stiver Award for Community Service went to Brandon Carroll, and Certificates of Community Service were to be presented to Jimmy Castro, Crystal Marquez, Albert Garcia and Diane Reed.
Early in the evening, Congresswoman Judy Chu praised Pasadena officers for their actions during the fire, recalling rescues that became emblematic of the department’s response.
“That image of him doing that showed the incredible bravery on the part of Pasadena PD,” Chu said, referring to Officer Christian Banuelos carrying a 101-year-old woman from her burning home.
Chu also announced $1 million in federal funding for upgrades to Pasadena’s public safety communications infrastructure.
The ceremony returned this year with a stronger public-facing focus after years in which the long-running Pasadena Police Department recognition program had become largely an internal departmental event. Lt. Andrea Perez of the department’s Community Relations Section said the ceremony offered an opportunity to bring residents back into the process of recognizing police personnel.
Pasadena resident and Realtor George Penner was a pivotal community partner who played a central role in expanding the event’s reach.
The evening closed with a standing ovation for officers, civilian staff and family members as Harris reflected on the continuing recovery from the Eaton Fire and the bonds formed during the disaster.
“We came together as a community,” Harris said in a recorded message played during the ceremony. “Everybody.”
Get our daily Pasadena newspaper in your email box. Free.
Get all the latest Pasadena news, more than 10 fresh stories daily, 7 days a week at 7 a.m.
