Excellence
in Action
Awards
Excellence
in Action
Awards
The officers of the Bakersfield Police
Department’s Community Engagement Division
demonstrated outstanding leadership by
completely redesigning and delivering the 2026
Junior Police Academy. Through strong crossagency collaboration, the team partnered with the local school district and community
organizations to secure vital resources, uniforms,
and meals for approximately 100 local youth
participants. Their strategic restructuring
overhauled program logistics and significantly
reduced line expenditures, directly
strengthening community trust and providing
invaluable mentorship for local youth.
2026
Andrew Stone
Technology Services Department
Andrew provided exceptional
customer services, resolving more
than 2,504 helpdesk tickets with
expertise, patience, and empathy. His
proactive approach, quick responses,
and ability to simplify complex issues
helped City staff feel supported and
valued while maintaining smooth
operations.
Ashley Knight
Development Services Deparment
Ashley volunteered to mentor and
train a fellowship intern, enabling him
to manage projects independently
and easing the department’s
workload. She also created brochures
that clarified the online permit
process while keeping pace with her
growing project list and exemplifying
the city’s CARES values.
Chelsea Dunaway
Bakersfield Fire Department
Chelsea exemplifies the City’s CARES
values through her administrative
support and leadership in
coordinating the BFire Department’s
annual Open House, engaging
residents with educational displays
and seamless cross-division logistics.
She also supports outreach, public
education, and recruitment.
S.T.A.R Award
and
Extra Mile Award
Community Engagement Team
Bakersfield Police Department
Wesley Alemao
Recreation & Parks Department
Wesley responded to a water shortage at the
McMurtrey Aquatic Center by reprogramming
and repairing hundreds of irrigation stations
after equipment failures. His strategic water
management prevented costly plant and turf
loss while conserving vital City resources
during extreme environmental stress.
As the City Attorney’s Office’s primary
legal secretary, Victoria manages a
substantial workload with precision and
professionalism while taking on
additional duties, including training staff,
updating manuals, and organizing
archives.
Stephanie Salmon
Bakersfield Police Department
Stephanie took ownership of the longdelayed Cameras Project, overcoming Caltrans permitting hurdles and
coordinating with the tech department
and vendors. Her persistent problemsolving and creation of a standardized permitting framework helped deliver the
critical public safety camera network.
Renee Taylor
Public Works Department
Renee led the preparation of a Solid
Waste budget during a demanding
transition, auditing revenue, forecasting
expenditures, and analyzing fund data
with a lean team. Her approach and
cross-departmental collaboration gave
City leadership a reliable financial plan.
Zekeio Martinez
Public Works Department
Zekeio led the implementation of
Routeware verification software and fleetwide route cameras, coordinating data cleanup, consultants, and cross-system
training. His technical expertise and route
knowledge ensured a smooth transition
without disrupting public service and
improved operational efficiency and
tracking accuracy.
Reginald Woolston
Finance Department
Reginald took sole ownership of the
City’s complex budget process and EPM
module, resolving system issues,
redesigning key functions, and refining
salary projections amid tight constraints.
He also collaborated across departments
& met critical deadlines to ensure an
accurate budget for the community.
Kayla Shaffstall
Bakersfield Police Department
Kayla designed the Police Department’s
Crime Free Multi-Housing Seminar,
creating a framework tailored to the
needs of high-density residential
communities. By connecting residents,
property managers, private security, and
the Housing Authority, she strengthened
neighborhood safety and public trust.
Juan Ambriz
Public Works Department
Juan demonstrated exceptional
leadership overseeing the
Development Services 5th Floor
Remodel and Fleet Services Building
D Restroom Modernization, navigating
construction phases and resource
shortages while keeping both projects
on schedule.
Joaquin Valladares
Bakersfield Fire Department
Joaquin embodies the City’s CARES values
by organizing and setting up major Fire
Department events, often working extra
hours to ensure their success. His humility,
reliability, and collaborative approach also
support equipment readiness and
community safety, including large-scale
illegal fireworks sweeps.
Jerry Mcknight
Technology Services Department
Jerry proactively redesigned and
upgraded the City’s network
infrastructure, improving reliability,
security, and bandwidth to meet
evolving needs. His work reduced the
risk of service disruptions and
established a strong foundation for
future digital infrastructure.
Jacob Thalin
Bakersfield Police Department
Officer Thalin modernized the
department’s defensive tactics curriculum
by creating training videos, developing
scenario-based instruction, and building a
digital dashboard to track certifications.
His resourcefulness and technical
mentorship have improved training
efficiency and better prepared officers for
the field.
Eileen Lewis
Bakersfield Fire Department
Eileen assisted with building the Fire
Department’s high school cadet
program, dedicating personal time to its
administration and growth. She also
volunteers for burn survivor events, youth
safety education, summer camps, and
national emergency response teams.
Victoria Gomez
City Attorney’s Office