Today, the 53rd Annual Police Appreciation Luncheon was held at PENDRY Newport Beach. The event was hosted by the Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Beach Police Foundation, and sponsored by Olympus Property, Brinc Drones, and Maria A. Cadigan. Members of the Police Department were honored at the luncheon, which was also attended by City of Newport Beach staff, elected officials, community leaders, and members of the local business community.
Each year, nominations for the Police Department Awards are collected by committees for each award category. Members of the Police Department who receive award nominations are discussed by those committees, and then recommendations are submitted to the chief of police for consideration.
Please join us in congratulating the following members of the Newport Beach Police Department who were honored today.
The individuals pictured above were honored as follows:
Officer Samuel Nilsson (2025 Officer of the Year) has taken just about every opportunity to grow his skills and take on new responsibilities. He serves as a Firearms Cadre Instructor, a member of the Special Weapons and Tactics Team, a First Aid Instructor, an Explorer mentor, and a Defensive Tactics Instructor.
Sergeant Michael Fletcher (2025 Sworn Supervisor of the Year) was promoted to Sergeant in 2024 and is currently assigned as a Field Supervisor in the Patrol Division. In addition to his patrol assignment, Mike is a member of the Field Training Officer Program, Firearms Cadre, and Explorer Program.
Computer Systems Manager Tom Encheff (2025 Civilian Supervisor of the Year) joined NBPD in 2002 and was previously recognized as Civilian Employee of the Year in 2005 for his work as an Information Technology Coordinator. He now serves as our Computer Systems Manager, where he supervises the team assigned to the department’s Information Technology Unit.
Crime Prevention Specialist Sara Verschueren (2025 Civilian Employee of the Year) has been a valued member of the NBPD since 2015, working in a variety of assignments. In her current role, she works in our Community Relations Unit as a liaison between our department and the residents who call Newport Beach home.
Volunteer Pam Parker (2025 Volunteer of the Year) joined the volunteer division in 2015. Even in an exemplary group of NBPD Volunteers in Policing, Pam has stood apart and distinguished herself.
Additional awards were also received:
Award of Merit presented to Officer Jay Kim for his integral role in the development of our department’s Drone as First Responder program.
Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Nathan Hill, Thomas McGuire, and Jonathan Sunshine for saving the life of a man who was suffering from multiple self-inflicted stab wounds and showing signs of having ingested a caustic chemical substance.
Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Nickalis Carr, Nicklas Haring, Hunter Robinson, and Daniel Soliz for saving the life of a man who was unresponsive and not breathing.
Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Jared Osborn and Michael Querry for saving the life of a man who was in ongoing cardiac arrest.
Lifesaving Award presented to Officers Zachary Michael and Troy Wright for saving the life of a man who was not breathing and did not have a pulse.
For this event, the Police Department produced a video titled “Eyes in the Sky,” which can be viewed online here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9SPcboQxnU.
