Telecommunicator of the Year Brian Eberhardt, Newport Beach Police Department

On April 18, 2013, the California Public Safety Radio Association (CPRA, the Southern California APCO chapter) held its annual Telecommunicator Award banquet. Since this was the 25th consecutive year that CPRA has sponsored this event, it was aptly named the Silver Anniversary Dinner. There were 300 award recipients, friends and guests present. Robert Stoffel of the Orange County Sheriff’s Communications Department served as master of ceremonies for the event.

Tim Trager, Chapter president, San Bernardino County ISD; Mike Strand, RF Engineer of the Year, Orange County Sheriff’s Communications; John Sarkissian, Riverside County

Special guests at the event included:

• Ms. Norma Torres, Assemblywoman from the 41 District. Ms Torres is a former dispatcher.
• Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca.
• Mr. Jeff Group, Producer and Mr. Richard D’Ovidio, screenwriter. They produced the movie “The Call” starring Halle Berry.
• Ms. Lynn Diebold and Mr. Spence Leafdale. They are former Chapter members and are credited with laying the groundwork for the award presentations 25 years ago.

The Telecommunicator of the Year Award went to Mr. Brian Eberhardt of the Newport Beach Police Department.

From left: Guest speaker Gordon Graham; Jim Acosta, Downey Fire Dept.; Lynn Dielbold, Monterey County (retired); Sgt Spence Leafdale, LAPD retired

The Communications Center Supervisor of the Year was Ms. Julia Cesena of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Communications Center Manager of the Year was Mr. Ron Dunn, communications manager, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Office.

Earlier in the day, at the regular CPRA Chapter meeting, awards were presented to winners in the technical arena. They were:

• RF Engineer of the Year Mike Strand, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Communications and Technology Division
• RF Technologist of the Year, Gil Rivera, San Bernardino County ISD, Department of Information and Technology

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  John Sarkissian; Tim Trager; RF Technologist of the Year Gil Rivera, San Bernardino County ISD; Mike Rowles, Selection Committee Member, San Bernardino County ISD