The article below profiles those who received the Distinguished Service Award, including two officers who graduated from CSCS: Jeremiah Ivins - Class of 1992 and Marcus Van Ooyen -Class of 1995. We should be very thankful that these fine Christian men are serving with the Police Department here in Colorado Springs. 

Medal luncheon honors fallen officer

Posted By: Andy Koen  (Updated: 9/18/2007 7:05:43 PM)
Colorado Springs Gazette Telegraph

Everyone in the ballroom at the Broadmoor Hotel's International Center stood in silence Tuesday afternoon as Edward and Norma Jordan took the stage Tuesday at the twenty-second Annual Medal of Valor Luncheon. Their son, Kenneth, was being awarded posthumously with the Police Cross and the Medal of Valor. Although the Jordan's did not address the crowd, you could sense that their feelings of loss were shared with the other police officers and their families in the room.

Officer Kenneth Jordan was shot at close range during a traffic stop on Fountain Boulevard December 4, 2006. He later died of his injuries. The suspect, Marco Lee, is charged with first degree murder and could receive the death penalty if convicted.

Six other officers were also awarded Tuesday for their actions on the night Jordan was shot. Officers John Garza and Joshua Hunter were with Jordan at the traffic stop.  They both received the Medal of Valor for stopping the gunman.  Officers John Chadbourne, Jason Milhone, Jill Wohlbach and Dale Zehner also received Department Commendations for giving prompt medical attention to Officer Jordan.

"These professions are not jobs that one pursues like traditional professions," Police Chief Richard Myers told the crowd prior to the award ceremony. "Rather they are instead callings reflecting a commitment on the part of the members."

Also receiving the Medal of Valor were Detectives Eric Frederic and Phillip "Joe" Richardson, and Officers Matthew Davis and Benjamin Heule. The four were involved in a stand off with a suicidal man a day after Officer Jordan was shot. Despite the tension of the day, the four officers kept their cool and arrested the man.

Officers Mark Abbots, Peter Tomitsch Sandra Daniels-Hill, and Jeffrey Pymer also received the Medal of Valor for unrelated incidents.

Commander Thor Eels, Sergeant James Rigdon, Officer Marcus Allen, Officer Chris Arseneau, Officer Troy Bauer, Officer Rafael Chanza, Officer Jeremiah Ivins , Retired Officer Daryl Johnson, Officer Michael Laurich, Officer Lance Lazoff, Officer Brian Makofske, Officer Paul Malchow, Officer Robert McCafferty, Officer Rob McPike, Officer Carlos Sandoval and Officer Marcus Van Ooyen all received the department's Distinguished Service Award.