Othello honors police, finance officer

OTHELLO — The Othello City Council honored several of its own Tuesday evening, bestowing awards upon uniformed and civilian police employees as well as the town’s finance officer.

Eight-year Othello Police veteran Sgt. Josh Silva received the city’s “Supervisor of the Year” award. According to Police Chief Phil Schenck, Silva joined the Othello Police in 2009, and was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 2014.

Silva is also a member of the department’s Tactical Response Team, Schenck explained.

And for the third year in a row, Officer Jaime Mendoza received the department’s “Officer of the Year” award. Mendoza joined the Othello police in 2012.

“Thank you,” Mendoza said as he took the plaque from Chief Schenck.

“At some point, you will need to relinquish that award,” Schenck said.

The department also honored Chris Faix as its “Support Staff of the Year.” Faix began working with the Othello Police as a part-time dispatcher in 1996. He was hired full-time in 2011 and then became the department’s evidence custodian in 2013.

“Right now, he is also training to serve as the department’s accreditation manager,” Schenck said.

An accreditation manager ensures that police training and conduct meets “established law enforcement standards” and makes sure all department policies are in up-to-date with current laws and court rulings.

Finally, Othello Mayor Shawn Logan presented the Washington Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Award for 2016 to city Finance Officer Spencer Williams.

Logan said the award is given out to city budgets that are clear, well-organized, and easy to understand.

“I’m accepting this award for the city as a whole,” Williams said. “This is a lot of work.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.