Moses Lake Officer of the Year named

MOSES LAKE — Several Moses Lake police officers were recognized Friday afternoon for their service.

Cpl. Dean Gaddis was named the 2009 Officer of the Year.

Gaddis has been with the department since 1987 and began working patrols, said Chief Dean Mitchell. He was one of the first Safe Streets officers and worked with the Interagency Narcotic Enforcement Team (INET).

The chief added, Gaddis is the only officer to rebuild a vehicle for department use and is currently working on a remodeling project at the department.

Gaddis was Officer of the Year in 1992 and 1997.

Reserve Officer Rich Cole was named Public Employee of the Year and was honored at the Masonic Lodge award ceremony last year.

Officer Rich Francis was recognized for the action he took July 4, 2009.

Mitchell explained the officer responded to Washington Street where a woman was struck in the face by gunfire.

He reportedly located the suspect vehicle, suspects and the gun used in the shooting. Francis subdued one combative subject using a Taser leading to the suspect’s arrest.

The officer’s work resulted in six people being arrested and the end of a three month rivalry between two gangs, Mitchell said.

Officer Randy Lloyd and Officer Juan Serrato were recognized for the number of infractions and citations they assigned in 2009. Combined, the two issued roughly 2,300 infractions.