Los Alamos police honor officers, civilians at annual banquet

The Los Alamos Police Department’s annual awards banquet made one thing clear: the department is rewarding the work that keeps calls from turning into crises, from detective cases and patrol response to detention operations and civilian support. Chief Dino Sgambellone and County Manager Anne Laurent presented the honors Feb. 28 at the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center.

The major awards went to people whose jobs touch nearly every part of public safety in Los Alamos County. Detective of the Year Ladislas Szabo, Officer of the Year John Harris and Supervisor of the Year Hilario Salinas were among the officers recognized for frontline service. Civilian of the Year honors went to Juanita Norris and Lance Fresquez, while Augustus L’Esperance was named Detention Officer of the Year. Sheldon Simpson received the Police Chief’s Commendation, and Cindy Garcia was recognized with the Community Service Award.

The department said the ceremony was meant to honor excellence in public safety service, professional achievement and community partnership. It also recognized commendable service, educational achievement, letters of appreciation and marksmanship awards, a spread of categories that points to a department valuing both visible enforcement and the quieter work that supports it, from training to communication to follow-through.

Sgambellone said the honorees represented “the very best” of the department and the community, adding that their professionalism, dedication and integrity strengthen public trust and help keep Los Alamos safe. That message fits a police force in a small county, where residents often judge service not just by arrests or response times, but by whether officers, supervisors, detention staff and civilian employees work together when problems arise.

The banquet also fit a longer department tradition of public recognition. In 2023, Los Alamos police said more than 50 awards were presented at its annual banquet, including letters of appreciation, pistol expert recognition, community service, commendable service, educational achievement, civilian service, chief commendations, life-saving awards and officer-of-the-year honors. The broad range of awards suggests the department is still treating policing as a team effort, one that depends on investigations, daily response, internal leadership and community trust as much as it does on the badge itself.