Staff and volunteers honored during South Lake Tahoe police ceremony

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department, in conjunction with Memorial Day and the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week, held its annual award ceremony Thursday.

In a very moving ceremony, late SLTPD Officer Mark Hounsell was honored for distinguished service. Hounsell and his wife Jeanne were killed in a single vehicle crash October 17, 2015. Two memorial shadow boxes were presented, one staying at the police department, the other going to the Hounsell's place of worship, Lifepoint Church in Minden, Nev.

A statement from SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams: At our annual memorial and awards ceremony this year, the South Lake Tahoe PD was honored by the attendance of several members of our public and local dignitaries. Our keynote speaker, the Presiding Judge of El Dorado County Suzanne Kingsbury, recognized the sacrifice and dedication so freely given to our community by the officers of our agency, and inspired us to maintain our professionalism and integrity amid an evident anti-law enforcement national sentiment. We recognized and prayed for the families and agencies of those California Peace Officers have been killed in the line of duty while holding fast to the high standards of public service. As we do every year at this ceremony, we recognized extraordinary efforts of our employees, and encouraged one another to always aspire toward the highest standards and ethics in our profession. We want to thank all who were present to help us recognize our own, as well as all others in the law enforcement profession who have responded to their own personal calling to make our communities the very best place it can be. We are proud of our agency, and we are proud of the South Lake Tahoe community which we will continually serve with courage, respect, and professionalism.

Those honored:
Jill and Gerry Carter – Citizen Award of Merit
ESO Dan Brown – Distinguished Service
Lead ESO Amy Poole – Distinguished Service
Dispatcher Melissa Dube– Distinguished service
Officer Mark Hounsell – Distinguished Service
Officer Chris Webber – MADD Award
Dispatcher Linda Clark – Fire Department Dispatcher of the Year