January 30, 2008
PROMOTION CEREMONY
The Midland Police Department will promote two of its own to higher ranks. A promotion ceremony will be held on Friday, February 1, 2008, at 2:00 p.m. in the third floor conference room at the MPD.
Officer Vance Oliver will be promoted to sergeant. 42-year-old Oliver has been employed by the department for eight years. He will begin his sergeant duties in the patrol division. Civilian employee and Records Technician Jennifer Hanzel will be promoted to Records Supervisor. 26-year-old Hanzel is in her second year with the department.
The media is invited to attend and help make this a special moment for the department.
ANNUAL SERVICE AWARDS BANQUET
The City of Midland will honor 125 employees for their service to Midland. The annual longevity banquet will be held on Thursday, January 31, 2008, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Greentree Country Club.
Employees will be recognized for 5 to 35 years of continuous service through 2007.
Jerry Compton/Police and Paul Sanchez/Parks will be recognized for 35 years of service; Dusty Land/Police, Victor Rivera/Police, Ernest Wakefield/Police, Gary Saunders/Transportation, Vincente Castillo/Retired Police, and Damon Shupp/Retired Police recognized for 30 years of service; Sheri Van der Zanden/Communications, Janie Sotelo/Customer Service, Chip Balzer/Fire, Kenneth Whiting/Fire, Manny Beltran/Police, Brian Bogart/Police, John Ingram/Police, Robby Mobley/Police, Milton O’Bryant/Police, Armando Rivera/Police, David Scardino/Police, Arthur Villarreal/Police, Jose Hernandez/Solid Waste, Bob Campbell/Transportation, Jose Jimenez/Transportation, Alfred Khamis/WPCP, Dan Friday/Retired Fire, Robert Glover/Retired Police, Danny Gonzales/Retired Code Enforcement, Leonard Hendon/Retired Police, Mateo Hernandez/Retired Transportation, Troy Sapp/Retired Utilities, and Gena Sullivan/Retired Accounting recognized for 25 years of service.
Employees celebrating 25 and 30 years receive an engraved watch. All others receive a City of Midland lapel pin or gift card.
OFFICER BACK ON FULL DUTY
Midland Police K-9 Officer Mark Garza is back to full duty today after being placed on Administrative Leave with pay on December 20, 2007. The officer had been working in an Administrative Duty capacity since January 14, 2008.
The Administrative Review Board met on January 25, 2008, to review the shooting death of Alfredo Losoya Vela who was shot by Officer Mark Garza on December 20, 2007. The board found that the officer's actions were in compliance with state law and MPD General Orders, that the officer's actions were not indicative of a need for further training or counseling, and that no further action is warranted.
On December 20, 2007, officers with the Midland Police Department’s SWAT Team were executing a high risk narcotics search warrant at 905 N. Weatherford when they located Vela in a bedroom, backed into a corner facing the officers with a semi-automatic gun pointed at them. Garza fired his weapon, a .223 caliber rifle, fatally shooting the 38-year-old suspect.
Vela was wanted for delivery of a controlled substance.
The autopsy report stated the cause of death as multiple gunshot wounds. Vela was shot three times, twice in the chest area and once in the arm.
The Texas Rangers are also conducting an investigation.
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