Community group's gala honors law officers, firefighters

The Above and Beyond Gala was held at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa, where recently retired Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona was the keynote speaker.

Those honored were:

● Airfield Firefighter Peter Arnold of the Arizona Air National Guard Fire Department. The youth mentor is a volunteer football and basketball coach. He also gives fire safety and career development lectures at Tucson schools.

● Sgt. Paul Castellano of the Arizona Department of Public Safety. He was instrumental in developing the DPS Motorcycle Squad for the Tucson freeway system and has written grants to replace aging radar units. He also coordinates the Citizens Academy in Green Valley.

● Ed Slechta of the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Association. He recently retired after 40-plus years with the Department of Public Safety. He headed up the DUI Task Force and started a phlebotomist program for officers to draw blood from DUI suspects.

● Patricia Pruitt, firefighter with the Drexel Heights Fire District. She is involved with public education programs for her department and schools, and coordinates annual adopt-a-family programs and fundraisers for low-income families.

● Support Services Technician Bernadette Mycynek with the FBI-Tucson Division. She started quarterly blood drives at her agency's building and has been recognized by the Arizona Region Red Cross with the highest award, the Spirit of the Cross.

● Administrative Director Catherine Sayre of the Green Valley Fire District. She works with other fire districts and the state Legislature to rewrite state statutes that govern fire districts.

● Captain Mike Duncan and Battalion Chief Gary West of the Northwest Fire District. The duo have developed critical emergency response criteria for the district after analyzing thousands of pieces of data.

● Captain Oscar Miranda of the Pima County Sheriff's Department. He is the Tucson chapter president of the National Latino Peace Officers Association and president of the Tucson Hispanic Coalition. The Pima Community College faculty member developed a new student training program called STAR.

● Assistant Fire Chief Chris Pendleton of the Rural/Metro Fire Department. He earned the designation of chief fire officer from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International - a title held by less than 1 percent of fire chiefs in the United States. He conducts evaluations of fire departments all over the world.

● Senior Office Assistant Patti Kerr of the Sahuarita Police Department. She was cited as a source of stability to the staff, providing guidance on operations and customer service.

● Sgt. Richard Garcia of the South Tucson Police Department. He developed expertise in supervising SWAT/tactical situations and undercover operations and was recognized as an expert in DUI operations.

● Fire Engineer Roger Thompson of the Tucson Fire Department. He teaches junior firefighters and engineers and builds homes for families in Nogales, Son.

● Assistant Chief Sharon Allen of the Tucson Police Department. She works with the American Heart Association, La Frontera Center, Northwest Medical Center Women's Health Advisory Board, the Old Pueblo Civilian Service Organization, West Point Parents Club and the 100 Club, which provides financial assistance to families of public safety employees who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

● Cpl. David Caballero of the University of Arizona Police Department. He developed a summer program at Sunnyside School District for at-risk students ages 12-17 and is an accomplished speaker at U.S. Marine Corps and memorial events. He recently received an honorary membership to the Marines' Easy Company 13th Infantry Battalion.

● Senior Patrol Agent Jay St. Romain of the U.S. Border Patrol. He is a certified field training officer and was cited for setting an example by fundraising for multiple causes.