By Pat Doody
Police Foundation names honorees
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Honorees of the Tehachapi Police Foundation are seated in the Police Department conference room. The four were waiting to have their official portrait pictures taken. From left are Explorer of the Year Anthony Cole, Officer of the Year Alejandro Barajas, Civilian Employee of the Year Matthew Murphy and Volunteer of the Year Edris Reed.
On May 18 at Rose Garden Estate in Cummings Valley, the Tehachapi Police Foundation will hold its first banquet, Honoring the Thin Blue Line. At the event, they will be honoring four people for their exemplary service to the Department and to the community.
Alejandro Barajas will be named Officer of the year by the Tehachapi Police Department. Originally from the Arvin Police Department, Barajas has been with the TPD for over two years. He is the School Resource Officer (SRO) and is devoted to the youth of our city. He also volunteers as a coach for the high school track team.
Civilian Employee of the Year is Matthew Murphy. Murphy, who had worked with the Bear Valley Police Department for five-and-a-half-years, was hired to set up the new dispatch services for the TPD, a job he completed in an amazing six months. He is also responsible for the training and oversight of all the dispatchers.
Anthony Cole is being named Explorer of the Year. At 18 years of age, he has been an Explorer since August of 2013.
Edris Reed, named Volunteer of the Year, has worked with the Tehachapi Police Department for years. She said that she loves to drive and transported documents to the East Kern courthouse for over five years. She has helped with office paperwork in Tehachapi for the last 2 years.
Kim Nixon, Vice President of the Tehachapi Police Foundation, said "I had the pleasure of meeting each honoree over the last few weeks, and I am very excited about their commitment to the community."
Tickets for the banquet are available by contacting Nixon at 619-5123 or Jim Wallace at 343-0833. Individual tickets are $50 each or $350 for a table of eight.
