The Federal Way Police Department held its 2015 employee award and recognition ceremony on Tuesday.

Each year, Chief Andy Hwang and his command staff recognize police employees who exceed expectations, and those nominated by their peers for special recognition. The ceremony is an opportunity to allow members of the department to share their recognition with all department members and their families.

Johnny Hernandez, property/evidence supervisor, was recognized as the Civilian Employee of the Year.

An employee of 19 years, Hernandez works every day to ensure that policy and practices exceed expectations, according to the police department. During the ceremony, police officials said Hernandez confidently faces the challenges inherent with management of property and evidence. He has been 100 percent reliable and committed to the department’s mission of “Earning the Public’s Trust” by his steadfast management of all things related to property and evidence.

Hernandez is proud of his commitment, and yet Hwang said he is often “unseen” when he arrives to meet the night shift for evidence corrections or training, or coming into the station on a long weekend to ensure blood evidence is stored properly.

Corporal Josh Haglan was recognized as Officer of the Year.

Haglan is an original member of the Special Operations Unit (downtown emphasis) that formed in 2009. During the last six years, Hwang said Haglan has consistently embraced and played a leadership role in the unit’s mission: revitalizing the downtown core, enhancing safety in Federal Way’s parks and trails and ensuring the safety and security of the thousands of citizens who pass through the transit center on a daily basis.

Haglan has embraced his new leadership role and constantly looks for problems to solve and ways to improve the community and police department, police officials said. He took the lead role in the Twin Lakes Home Owners Association security patrol group. Under Haglan’s leadership, the security team is more proactive than ever and works in close partnership with the police department on a daily basis.

Haglan has been aggressive in his utilization of the www.safecityfw.com website. He routinely posts a wide variety of alerts with detailed maps, photographs and descriptions of neighborhood and transient encampment problems, he follows up with regular updates and extra patrols on his alerts and enlists the assistance of his fellow officers and teammates to proactively solve problems within the community.

Detective Sierra Baker was also honored as Detective of the Year.

Hwang said Baker has demonstrated professionalism and dedication to law enforcement through extremely productive and quality work by continually working hard and never giving up. She has put together some outstanding cases that make her worthy of this award, he noted.

In one particular case, she exceeded expectations by seizing 120 firearms, nine ounces of methamphetamine and over $5,000 in cash. Twenty-five of these firearms were stolen and one was used in a homicide in King County. When resources are limited, Baker coordinates with various other units to accomplish the tasks. Hwang said it is because of this unwavering drive and dedication that the Special Investigation Unit has enjoyed a high level of success.

Lt. Mike Bertucci with the Special Operations Unit was recognized as the department’s Supervisor of the Year.

Bertucci’s leadership skills serve the agency well by solving problems as they arise, by setting an example for others to follow and utilizing a team concept, police officials said. Successful team projects are include crime reduction at Home Town Plaza, rescue of an endangered out-of-state runaway and an arrest in the pepper spray robbery series.

Police officer Richard Adams was recognized for exceeding expectations in all patrol areas with the Most Valuable Player Award.

Hwang said Adams is highly motivated to respond, engage and produce results that reflect the highest standards of law enforcement service and help the Federal Way Police Department in achieving its goals and objectives.

Detective Dennis Wilcox was honored with the Medal of Meritorious Service.

Hwang said Wilcox’s qualifications and exceptional performance involve his significant dedication to law enforcement and the police department’s mission. In 2002, he was selected to represent the department as a member of a regional narcotics enforcement team. The duties of this assignment involve significant risk; he has conducted numerous surveillance operations in significantly undesirable locations.

In 2015, while working irregular hours and weekends, he established an extremely high investigative and seizure benchmark. He conducted 110 investigations, seizing nearly $1 million in U.S. currency and 10 cars and trucks valued at $197,915.00. Wilcox also seized over 3 pounds of cocaine, over 73 pounds of methamphetamine, over 4 pounds of heroin, 46.2 grams of marijuana oil, 803 marijuana plants and 64 pounds of marijuana, 100 Oxycodone pills, 357 pills of MDMA, 4.70 pounds of powder MDMA, along with 15 firearms.

Hwang said Wilcox’s selfless dedication to duty and exceptional performance makes him “more than worthy” of the prestigious medal.