Members of various branches of law enforcement were honored for their services during an award ceremony Thursday in Yucca Valley. The Morongo Basin Chapter 71 of the International Footprint Association honored representatives from the Joshua Tree National Park Service, the County Probation Department, the County Sheriffâs Court Services, Morongo Basin Sheriffâs Department, the California Highway Patrol, the United States Marine Corps provost marshalâs office, and the U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Managing editor Tami Roleff tells about the accomplishments of some of the honoreesâŚ
Among those who were honored were Sheriffâs Deputy Shauna Ables, Deputy Dale Dyer as Court Services Officer, Probation Officer Samuel Warkentin, CHP Officer Simon Miller, military police officer Lt. Kelly Guinther, Joshua Tree National Park Ranger Dylan Moe, and Naval Criminal Investigative Services Special Agent Noman Ravala. Officer Miller, who joins his brothers Levi, Jesse and Caleb at the Morongo Basin CHP station, led the entire Morongo Basin Area in total DUI arrests for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, and was recently recognized by San Bernardino Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk-Driving (MADD) for his hard work. This was Officer Millerâs second consecutive MADD award. Lt Kelly Guinther, a civilian police officer with the Combat Centerâs military police, was recognized for his outstanding performance as the Assistant Operations Officer , the Accident Investigations Chief, and Violence Prevention Officer. Park Ranger Dylan Moe was recognized for his work in the investigation and successful prosecution of three of the individuals who graffiti’ed Barker Dam last year. Special Agent Noman Ravala was honored for his aggressive investigation of a sexual assault against a 16-year-old girl that led to a complete confession.