Nearly 40 Boulder Police Department officers and employees will be recognized for their outstanding service to the community this Thursday, March 10, 2011.

The ceremony will be held at the Boulder Police Department, 1805 33rd Street starting at 3:30 p.m.

Two officers will receive a Medal for Lifesaving award for rescuing a 5-year-old girl who was trapped in a house fire. The officers arrived before the Boulder Fire Department and were told that a child was still inside. It took two attempts to search the house which was thick with smoke, but the officers found the little girl asleep on the couch and were able to carry her to the safety of her waiting family.

Officers and employees will also receive Awards for Excellence and the Chief’s Certificate of Commendation. Along with the department’s crime analyst, a number of detectives and officers were able to solve more than 60 residential burglaries after identifying a pattern and conducting surveillance that allowed them to apprehend the two suspects who were responsible. The complete list follows:

Medal for Lifesaving
· Officer Brent Biekert
· Officer Kristin Weisbach

Award for Excellence
· Detective Craig Beckjord
· Officer Joel Burick
· Sergeant Greg LeFebre
· Analyst Mel Rhamey
· System Administrator Dave Ritchey

Chief’s Commendation
· Master Police Officer Mark Bliley
· Officer Sterling Ekwo
· Officer Michael Marquez
· Officer Ryan McAuley
· Officer Mark Niedzielski
· Officer Jenny Paddock
· Detective Scott Sloan

Unit Citation
· PTO Program (the department’s officer training program)