MARYSVILLE – Detective Craig Bartl was named Marysville Police Department Officer of the Year for heading a 2013 homicide case involving an 82-year-old man in an RV park that resulted in murder convictions of two criminals.
Bartl was one of several officers honored by the department recently.
Bartl, who joined the Marysville force in 2010, is also assigned to the SWAT team, collision investigation team, Child Abduction Response Team, panels for domestic violence and sex offender monitoring, and impaired-driving emphasis patrols.
“When we have a new project, Craig is the one who will step up and say, ‘Yeah, I’ll do it,’” Cmdr. Wendy Wade said.
Police Chief Rick Smith’s Meritorious Service Medal was presented to Crime Analyst Don Castanares. He was hired in 2008 to staff a new unit. He retired from the Army after 23 years as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst, and Senior Security and Intelligence Advisor. His affinity for numbers through data mining, crime mapping, statistics, and an ability to see patterns and trends has made his work a tactical and strategic access in crime-fighting, Smith said.
Among other awards:
• Barbara Grady was named Custody Officer of the Year for her positive attitude and going to extra lengths in the two years she has been there.
• Sgt. Rick Sparr, a 19-year veteran, was nominated Supervisor of the Year for his leadership and management skills, including the Field Training Officer program.
• Officer Jeremy Wood, 17 years on the force, received the SWAT recognition award for putting his life on the line and always knowing where he needs to be as a team member responding to high-pressure calls.
• Custody Officer Julie Swick-LaFave was presented a Certificate of Merit for measures that have kept costs down in the municipal jail where she has worked for more than 22 years.
• Program Specialist Ilia Heath was named Support Staff Employee of the Year for her vast knowledge of records and documents in the Record Division in the Public Safety Building where she has worked for almost six years.
A Certificate of Commendation collectively and individually was presented to Coordinator Ron Wagner and the Marysville Volunteer Program volunteers. The volunteers’ duties include: performing security patrols around schools, business parking lots, parks, vacation house checks, event parking and security, fingerprinting children and providing crime prevention information.
