12 minute read
Retired Employees
Advertisement
Page 95
Chief Kevin Treadway: 2/1/1987 to 6/26/2020
Kevin Treadway was hired by the Flagstaff Police Department in February of 1987. Although Kevin had completed a business degree at NAU in 1985, he was drawn to public service, following in the footsteps of his father, who was our Fire Chief.
Kevin attended the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA)in Tucson Arizona. He returned to patrol. While serving in patrol he became a full-time DARE instructor, and he was one of our departments first collision reconstructionist.
In 1992 he was promoted to corporal and a year later he transferred into detectives. In 1996 after a competitive process he was promoted to Sergeant and worked a year in patrol before transitioning to our Detective Sergeant.
In 2001 he was promoted to Lieutenant. He completed a masters degree through Northern Arizona University in Educational Leadership. In 2004 he transferred into the Criminal Investigations Lieutenant position. In 2006 he was promoted to Deputy Chief. Upon the passing of Chief Brent Cooper, he was appointed interim Police Chief.
In June of 2012 after a rigorous process he was selected as Chief of Police. After six years as Chief, he got bored with police work and took a sabbatical from the department to serve as Interim Deputy City Manager from February of 2018 to July of 2019.
Kevin’s career can be described as one of awards and accomplishments. He has over 70 thank you letters and commendations in his file. Some of the more notable ones are as follows:
▪ Commendation for not shooting an armed suspect who pointed a gun at him, in the midst of bystanders (1988) ▪ A commendation after he negotiated with a distraught armed suicidal subject for three hours until a successful tactical solution could be implemented (1994). ▪ He was selected as the Fraternal Order of Police Officer of the year in 1989 and 1995. ▪ Department Coordinator of Sunnyside Weed and Seed program (1996-1998). ▪ Commendation for obtaining a confession in the Lamont Lattery homicide investigation (1999). ▪ A distinguished graduate of the FBI National Academy session 217, in 2004.
Page 96
▪ 2008 graduate of the Arizona Post Leadership in Police Organizations program. ▪ Took the lead on the creation of a Fallen Officer Memorial Monument at the police station. ▪ Served as President of the AZ Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates (2010). ▪ Collaborated with the Navajo Human Rights Commission in the development of cultural sensitivity training. ▪ He received the City Manager Agassiz Award in 2011 for quality leadership. ▪ In 2014 he received the Mary Jo Jenkins Outstanding Director Award.
As Chief, Kevin instituted many new programs to increase the performance, reputation and credibility of our department. Some of these more notable programs include: Adoption of crisis intervention teams, the patrol rifle program, body camera program, domestic violence prevention partnerships, Citizens Liaison Committee, posting critical incidents on FPD Transparency.com, and getting a legal advisor assigned to the Polcie Department.
Page 97
Lieutenant Lance Roberts: 1/10/1982 to 2/28/2020
Lance B. Roberts joined the Flagstaff Police Department in January of 1982. There are over 60 commendations and thank you letters in his file for his outstanding service. The first one was from the Du Beau Motel Fire in September of 1983, where Roberts was the first on scene to a hotel fire. Without hesitating, he entered the burning hotel to wake guests who were sleeping, saving injury and death to several occupants by helping them climb out a rear window. His level of service and sacrifice has not wavered over his years of service, despite his long tenure.
As a patrol officer, Lance was a member of the S.W.A.T team and was Officer of the year in 1983. Lance was promoted to Corporal in 1989 where he remained a member of the S.W.A.T. team, was Chairman of the City Accident Review Board and started the first Transient/Wildfire Patrols as Corporal for Selected Enforcement.
Lance was promoted to Detective in 1992 where he remained on the S.W.A.T. Team and was lead detective in the Booty case, Tarr shooting case as well as the Baines serial rapist case. Lance was promoted to Sergeant in 1997 and in his 15 years in the position of Sergeant, Lance developed the short form report, piloted NCIC Project for the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission, Worked closely as a Terrorist Liaison Officer for Northern Arizona, and was the City Manager’s WOW AWARD recipient, Elk’s Club Officer of the Year as well as Officer of the Year in 2007.
Lance was promoted to Lieutenant in 2012. He took over supervision of large-scale special events to include July 4th parade and fireworks, Homecoming/Tequila Sunrise, Operation Angel Thunder, and New Year’s Eve security details. He was heavily involved in managing the DUI grants and details. Lance would always go the extra step to bring in food for those working these events. Lance holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Columbia Southern University.
Lance has the record for the longest tenure in service of any Flagstaff Police Officer at 38 years. Earlier this year he was recognized by his peers and received the City Managers Excellence (Ponderosa) Award for his career accomplishments. Lance and his wife Wendy have raised four children together….Lance, Tammy, Tyler and Danielle.
Page 98
Sergeant Ryan Coons 12/11/89 thru 10/23/2020
Ryan transferred to the Flagstaff Police Department in December of 1989 after working as a sworn deputy with Coconino County for two years. His starting wage with the city was $10.79 an hour, which was considered high at the time. Ryan was commended over the years numerous times for his high-quality police work, exemplary investigations, and for arresting dangerous felons. He served as a gang investigator while assigned to State Gang Task force, started the department’s bicycle officer program, and he served in the Criminal Investigations Division for 2 years. He was awarded the City Manager’s Award on two different occasions. Ryan has served in just about every capacity a Sergeant can serve in including; Patrol Sergeant, Metro Narcotics Sergeant, Internal Affairs Sergeant, Sunnyside King Squad Sergeant, and most recently as the Special Enforcement Squad Sergeant.
Ryan’s legacy at the Flagstaff Police Department is and forever will be the SWAT Team, and he has been our SWAT Team Leader for the past 18 years. His vision for the SWAT Team is unparalleled, and he has transformed our team over the past three decades to the team it is today. Ryan was selected for the Team in 1991, and he would remain on the team for the remainder of his career which is an incredibly difficult task, 28 years! He set the PT course record at Mesa SWAT School an could still compete for the award today.
Ryan was commended with his teammates on several occasions for peaceful resolutions to dangerous conflicts and saving lives, and he will always be known to take the most dangerous assignments on a callout. Ryan was awarded the Medal of Valor during a callout which is the department’s highest award for bravery. Ryan entered a bathroom with an armed suspect, and he wrestled the gun out of the suspect hands which ended a potentially deadly scenario and saved the man’s life. Ryan was also awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for chasing an armed suspect during a SWAT callout.
Page 99
Mike Rodriquez was hired at the Flagstaff Police Department on February 6, 2000. He began his service by attending and graduating from the Arizona Law Enforcement Academy.
Upon graduation, Mike was assigned to the patrol division working primarily as a west side officer. During his time as a patrol officer, Mike earned numerous letters of commendations from the police department as well as the Office of the City Manager. In 2001, Mike was selected to the Flagstaff Police Department’s Honor guard team where he served for the next 10 years.
Mike was promoted to the rank of patrol corporal in April of 2005. Shortly after his promotion he was transferred to the detective division in July of 2006 where he served the remainder of his 20 year career.
During his time in the detective division, Mike was awarded with a Meritorious Service Award in 2006 for the work done on the Lori Justice homicide. In 2008, Mike was awarded the Exchange Club Officer of the year. During his tenure at the police department, Mike was also the recipient of two City Managers Excellence awards, the first in 2002 and the second in 2017. Mike was a member of the Arizona Auto Theft Task Force, the Child Abduction Response Team, and the Northern Arizona Regional Officer Involved Shoot Team. Mike was also the departments expert in Amber Alert protocols and provided trainings to our department.
Outside of work, Mike gave back to the youth of Flagstaff by coaching several youth baseball teams. Mike was also a board member for 10 years for the Continental Little League baseball organization.
Mike has been hired as a Warrant Officer for the City of Flagstaff. He plans on continuing his passion of fishing and spending time with his family; Rosey, Hunter, Tirza, Austin, and Autumn.
Page 100
Officer Kelly Brown: 11/4/1996 to 11/6/2020
Kelly Brown started with the Flagstaff Police Department on 11/04/1996. During his 24 year career he served as a patrol officer, Field Training Officer, Firearms Instructor and Housing Authority Officer. He received letters of commendation throughout his career such as conducting an outstanding domestic violence investigation in 2018, receiving a WOW award in 2014. He also received numerous other letters detailing his compassion and professionalism during investigations and helping members of the community. He retired on 11/6/2020.
Officer Brad Conway: 7/2/2000 to 7/23/2020
Brad Conway attend and graduated from Sinagua High School, served as a reserve for the US Army and was employed by Bank of America as a supervisor before he applied to be an officer for the Flagstaff Police Department in June of 2000. Brad’s goal was to work in law enforcement for the City of Flagstaff – he applied for no other departments at the time, his only wish was to work in the community he grew up in.
Brad was promoted to Corporal in 2007 and spent almost half his career in the Criminal Investigations section as a detective. Brads file is filled with commendations and letters of appreciation for his selfless dedication to the community and his fellow officers. Examples include several circumstances of life saving measures, frequent cases of professional demeanor in high stress situations, and many instances of collaborative work amongst his squad or fellow detectives to put forth exceptional investigations.
Brad is often found with a smile and a polite word for everyone he comes across, whether in the halls at the police department or out on the road. An individual who was arrested by Brad had such a positive encounter with Brad, he wrote a letter expressing his apology for inconveniencing the department as well as his gratitude towards Brad for his professional demeanor while he booked him into jail.
Brad is the type of leader who is patient enough to listen, wise enough to learn from mistakes and criticisms, courageous enough to learn from those mistakes and make the folks he leads want to be better and do more for our community by the compassion he has shared. Brad has honorably served the Flagstaff Police Department and the Flagstaff Community with loyal and dedicated service for the past 20 years.
Page 101
Robert Soucie –Evidence Technician: 10/8/2006 to 10/15/2020
Robert Soucie began his career with the Flagstaff Police
Department in 1981, serving the city admirably for 21 years as a
Police Officer. After a brief retirement Robert was rehired as a
civilian Evidence Technician. Robert’s file is filled commendations from supervisors and coworkers alike. His attention to detail,
positive attitude and willingness to pitch in and help wherever needed made him a valuable employee. Because
of his initiative many of the procedures and processes that we continue to use today in evidence were created
by Robert. In February of 2020 Robert Soucie was an honored recipient of a City Managers Excellence Aspen
Award because of his hard work and dedication to the Flagstaff Police Department. Robert retired from the
Flagstaff Police Department for the second time in October of 2020, after an accumulative 35 years with the
department.
Page 102
Michael Vessey – ECS 6/23/2014 to 12/31/2020
Michael Vessey was hired as an Emergency Communications
to his employment with the police department, he served the
country for twenty-two years in the United States Army. He also
served the community as a Firefighter for the Silver Bell Army
Heliport, Camp Navajo, Grand Canyon Airport and was a Fire
Captain at Tusayan Fire Department. During his time in dispatch, he trained many new employees and was
known as our “fire guru” because of his vast fire knowledge. He always had a positive attitude and took on any project we gave him.
Together Mike and his wife Melby have seven children and 11 grandchildren. He is an avid Denver Broncos fan
and in his spare time enjoys hunting, fishing, archery, long range shooting and more recently golf.
Mike is looking forward to traveling the country with his wife and enjoying his retirement.
Page 103
Page 105
