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Humble Observer

Humble police department honors heroes

 

By COREY L. TURNER
Updated: 07.14.09
Growing up, Joe Martinez was always the protector of his friends and peers. His father is also a recently retired 36-year veteran of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office. So it is no surprise Martinez became a proud police officer at the age of 21.

“I was the kid that was always fighting growing up because I wanted to look out for others,” Martinez said. “So I knew early on that I may want to be a police officer.”

Martinez has now been an officer for 14 years and recently earned the honor of Officer of the Year at the second annual awards banquet on July 10 at the Humble Civic Center.

He was among 10 other honorees at the annual event that recognizes the hard work of the Humble Police Department and those in the community that help throughout the year. Other honorees at the event included Community Service Commendation-Billy Bishop and Rito Soto of Fairfield Inn; Volunteer of the Year-Pat Kocijan; Dispatcher of the Year-Charissa Price; Civilian Employee of the Year-Melissa Legoudes; Department Award of Achievement-Lisa Stephens; and Detective of the Year-Jackie Blanchard. Melissa Simon also earned her Crime Scene Investigator certification pin. Each award was presented by assistant chief Curtis Mills.

Humble Police Chief Gary Warman also presented a pair of Chief’s Commendation awards to Officer Walt Evans and Julie Price.

The event is put on by the Humble Police Association, a non profit that helps sponsor city youth programs, provides scholarships and helps support Humble police officers and members who need financial assistance due to dire medical needs.

For the association President Jim Hammock, the awards banquet is a time to honor officers like Martinez and others in the academy once a year.

“Our organization does several positive things in community including the scholarships we offer. But we are really here for the police officers,” Hammock said. “We felt we needed to get together as a group to commend each other for some of the great things going on in this police department.”

In addition to the officers and family in attendance, the event was also attended by Humble Mayor Donnie McMannes, members of city of council, and other community residents and volunteers that support the police department.

Chief Warman expressed his appreciation for the support from the city leadership and the community. He also made sure to mention that he was proud of those honored at the banquet, but he was more proud to be able to serve Humble since 1979.

“There are a lot of officers that aren’t at the awards banquet that could be honored,” Warman said. “We all have to work together to make this community safer. I would put these officers up against any in the world, and we are thankful to have the support of our mayor and city councilmen. I talk to a lot of chiefs that don’t enjoy that have similar situations.”

Martinez echoed the chief’s sentiments following the ceremony, and said it has been an “honor” to serve with his fellow officers.

“It feels good to be honored for your hard work, but we don’t get into this field for the recognition,” Martinez said. “I actually felt undeserving of this award because so many others work just as hard as me. There is nothing special about me, I was just nominated by someone. We have a great department and any one of us could have received this honor.”