Community members, officers, family and friends gathered in the Cortez City Council chambers Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Cortez Police Department’s first annual award ceremony.
“We’re excited to have an awards presentation to honor some of you who have done extraordinary work under more than difficult situations,” said Interim Chief of Police Andy Brock during the ceremony.
Brock told The Journal that the event had “been in the works for a few years.”
“We have just been waiting on the actual awards to arrive,” he said. “It turns out, in the past couple of years, we have had several serious events that merited the awards.”
Twenty-one people were recognized that night, and their family members and friends were invited to pin the awards on them.
To be awarded, they were first nominated by a peer or community member. An awards committee and Brock then chose who to award. And though most recognized were from the Cortez Police Department, some were from other offices and departments.
The first award presented was the Chief’s Certificate of Commendation.
Lt. Rogelio Maynard explained that it’s an award the chief gives to people in the department or even community members for “an outstanding act of achievement.”
Five members of the Cortez Police Department received that award:
- Communications Supervisor Lori Johnson.
- Lead Dispatcher Steve Bogott.
- Dispatcher Aimee Raygoza.
- Dispatcher Jay Dollar.
- Patrol Administrative Assistant Marissa Hurst.
Brock said that on Nov. 29, 2023. when Sgt. Michael Moran was shot and dispatch received the call of an officer down, those five responded immediately and collaborated “seamlessly” with other dispatchers to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
“Their actions exemplify the professionalism, dedication and teamwork that are vital to the success of the emergency operations,” Brock said.
Next, Lt. Angelo Martinez presented the Meritorious Service Award, for “a member whose conduct brings significant credit to them and achieves significant accomplishment for the betterment of the office,” he said.
Five people – four from Cortez and one state patrolman – were given this award:
- Detective Shane Fletcher.
- Officer Koltan Guttridge.
- Officer Karla Ross.
- Sgt. Vance Carver.
- Cpl. James Proctor of the Colorado State Patrol.
“This is for their exemplary dedication to professionalism following the tragic, line-of-duty death of Sgt. Michael Moran Nov. 29, 2023,” Maynard said.
The five awardees maintained “exceptional situational awareness” and composure under immense pressure, which was “critical in ensuring no officers or bystanders were injured,” Maynard said.
Maynard went on to present the Life Saving Award to Detective Kristin Cannon for her “remarkable composure” in an escalating situation when confronted with a gunshot victim and multiple hostile subjects in September 2023.
“During all that, she had wherewithal to apply lifesaving measures to an injured female that most likely resulted in saving her life,” Martinez said.
Cannon was also awarded the Meritorious Service Award.
The Meritorious Conduct Medal came next and was given to three members – Officer Trevor Robertson, Sgt. Kurtiss Baumgartner and Lt. Angelo Martinez – “whose conduct or performance is brave, exemplary or where a significant risk of injury to the member exists,” Maynard said.
In July 2023, they responded to a call and was able to neutralize a suspect who repeatedly aimed their firearm at them, but didn’t use deadly force.
“It could’ve been a lot worse for them, the person, the community,” said Brock. “They did an outstanding job.”
The Police Medal of Valor came next and was awarded to three individuals who performed an act “with significant risk to their life with a demonstration of courage that goes beyond what’s normally expected,” Maynard explained.
A Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Stephon Lobato, Sgt. Koby Guttridge and Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Alexander Kennedy received medals of valor for their actions the day Moran was shot.
Those three located and confronted the fleeing suspect “without hesitation” and “displayed remarkable courage,” Martinez said.
Dispatcher Jenny Bashore and Colorado State Patrol Trooper Steven King were awarded the Meritorious Conduct Pin and Medal next, for showing “extraordinary bravery” when Moran was shot.
Brock said Bashore was “about a 1-day-old dispatcher” in the passenger seat of Moran’s squad car when he was shot, and immediately picked up the police radio and called for help.
King gave Moran CPR and started securing the scene when he arrived, which is standard practice for a police officer, but “amazing he could actually do it” in light of everything going on, Brock said.
Officer Jerry Sam and Lt. Rogelio Maynard were the last two to be awarded that night, and they each got a Meritorious Service Award.
In July 2023, they responded to a shots fired call, and were “confronted with a volatile and hazardous scenario,” and displayed courage and skill in that situation, Brock said.
Brock thanked everyone who was “in a terrible situation but performed outstandingly.”
“I would also like to acknowledge that while not everyone here was nominated for an award, in those tragic events I saw … family members, spouses and retired members lifting and supporting each other,” Brock said.
He also acknowledged the fire department, EMS, hospital staff, the Community Intervention Program – essentially everyone who works together to “do the best they can” when responding to emergencies.
