Pinetop Lakeside proclaims National Police Week, honors officers and staff for 2024 service

Pinetop Lakeside — The Town Council read a proclamation declaring May 11–17, 2025, National Police Week and the police department presented its 2024 awards, recognizing officers, staff and volunteers for lifesaving efforts, major‑crime investigations and community events.

Mayor Stephanie Erwin read the town proclamation declaring National Police Week and asking citizens to remember officers who died in the line of duty. Commander Wilke and Chief Barnes then presented awards for acts in 2024, including lifesaving attempts, opioid‑overdose reversals, traffic enforcement statistics, crash investigation certification, and recognition for a multi‑agency barricade and officer‑involved‑shooting response.

Chief Barnes described multiple recognitions: Officer Randy Keith received a meritorious achievement certificate for life‑saving CPR attempted on an infant on Sept. 9, 2024; officers Levi Wigfords and Mike Abusejo were honored for reversing an opioid overdose on Dec. 26, 2024; Officer Mike Abusejo was also noted for traffic enforcement ("837 traffic stops, 304 citations, 57 cases, 15 felony arrests"); Chelsea Hawes was recognized for broader duties including public information and crash reconstruction certification; Sergeant Justin McNeil received a medal of valor for his command role in a late‑night barricade/shooting incident; several officers received Public Safety Achievement Awards for perimeter and containment duties during that incident; Detective Ricky Bunch received a chief's commendation for heavy caseload work on cold cases and multijurisdictional investigations; Priscilla De La Garza was named civilian of the year for coordinating community events; Larry Agan was named volunteer of the year; Officer Levi Wigfords was named officer of the year; and Sergeant Tom Adducci was named supervisor of the year.

Chief Barnes summarized the barricade incident: deputies initially were shot at while responding to a disturbance; local officers deployed perimeter containment and later approached with an armored vehicle; a subject fired at the vehicle and an officer ultimately shot and ended the threat. "It was a very serious situation," Chief Barnes said, and he commended officers for protecting citizens and containing the suspect.

Why it matters: The awards highlight both routine and exceptional public‑safety work in Pinetop Lakeside over the prior year and acknowledge collaboration with county task forces and regional partners.

What happened next: The council congratulated recipients; no council action was required for the awards or proclamation.