Officer Eden Cerda was one of the 14 people honored at a banquet in North Fresno. Each of the honorees was nominated by peers and chosen by a committee. The awards recognize officers, employees and volunteers who go above and beyond when doing their job, and helping out in the community.
Organizers say it gives the public a look at a different side of the police department.
Roz Clark of the Fresno Neighborhood Watch Association said, "They're in our community, they work in our community and they also help out in our community. And this is the way we recognize those people."
The event started nearly three decades ago with just one officer being honored, but in recent years the awards have been expanded to recognize officers in each district along with civilian employees and volunteers.
