The Sedona Police Department held its annual awards ceremony on Dec. 15 at the Sedona Elks Lodge, during which officer Shayla Jones was named SPD Officer of the Year, officer Bailey Ehrlich was named Rookie of the Year, Jones and Detective Jesse Santos were named Mothers Against Drunk Driving Officers of the Year.

Officer Rod Rodrigo and Sgt. Chris Stevens also received a lifesaving award for a Feb. 21 response to a medical emergency at Safeway.

The Officer and Rookie of the Year Awards are based on internal department voting by their peers and a selection committee made up of acting Deputy Chief of Police Christopher Dowell, one civilian staffer, one police officer and a Dispatcher. 

Police Awards 

This is the first of a two-part series on the 2024 Sedona Police Department awards; the second half will focus on the department’s volunteers.

Officer Shayla Jones

“I did a ride-along with her and she immediately impressed me with a high degree of professionalism, and you want to talk about somebody who has just this unending humility, that is Shayla,” said SPD Volunteer of the Year Lance Waldrop, who is also a Sedona Fire District Governing Board member. “She’s an excellent patrol officer, she has a way with words … She’s the kind of officer that every other agency in this country would be like, ‘How much can we pay to get you to come work for us?’”

Jones received the award for taking on additional responsibilities, including becoming a field training officer, mentoring and evaluating new officers, and a certified driving instructor, teaching courses at the Northern Arizona Regional Training Academy and developing and running driving and high-risk vehicle stop training.

Jones is “an excellent employee because she takes on a lot of extras outside of just doing her daily patrol responsibility,” SPD Chief Stephanie Foley said. “She’s a phlebotomist. She’s on the SWAT team. She recently signed up to be one of our drone operators, so she is a go-getter.”

MADD

“Another area where Officer Jones has made a profound [effect] is the department’s DUI enforcement efforts,” the MADD citation stated. “As a certified law enforcement phlebotomist, she conducts DUI  blood draws on a regularbasis, which is a vital aspect of impaired driving investigations. Her skill and efficiency in this role have played a significant part in improving DUI case outcomes.”

Dowell said Santos also earned the 2024 MADD award for having a high number of DUI arrests and participating in SPD’s DUI enforcement.

Lifesaving Award

On the morning of Feb. 21, 2024, SPD dispatch received a call that a person, later identified as a Safeway employee, had passed out on the floor of the grocery store and was not breathing.

“Officer Rod Ramirez arrived on scene less than one minute later,” Ramirez’s citation stated. “He located the individual … and began performing CPR. Sgt. Chris Stevens arrived on scene shortly after and deployed his AED. Both continued to perform live-saving measures for several minutes until Sedona Fire District arrived on scene. Due to the quick response and resuscitation procedures performed by [the officers], the individual began breathing on his own and was subsequently transported by SFD to Verde Valley Medical Center.”

SFD and VVMC subsequently awarded challenge coins to two Safeway coworkers who also provided CPR, according to a SFD on March 28.

Rookie of the Year

The 2024 Rookie of the Year Award is presented to an officer with fewer than three years with the department, with Ehrlich getting the nod for his professional growth and even temperament.

“I see [Ehrlich] on a daily basis, and he always has a smile on his face, he’s always quick to do what is asked, and he is quick to volunteer to help,” Dowell said.

As an example of Ehrlich’s professionalism, Dowell mentioned his response to a call on Jan. 27, when 81- year-old Jerry Clyde Carr allegedly threatened to shoot two Florida visitors who were playing in the snow at the Carroll Canyon Trailhead near his property; Ehrlich was the case agent for the event, which ended with the Verde Valley Regional SWAT team arresting Carr.

“One of his standout skills is his ability to deescalate tense situations and interact effectively with difficult individuals,” Ehrlich’s citation stated.

“This is a critical and often challenging aspect of law enforcement, but Ehrlich has demonstrated an exceptional ability to remain calm, communicate effectively, and bring order to unpredictable encounters. … He’s the type of officer we wish we could clone.”

Staff of the Year

The Professional Staff of the Year Award was presented to Jamie Rivero, a records clerk who had been with the department for 15 years as of September. 

“[Rivero] is committed to perfecting all reports … and is dedicated to efficiently supporting all members within the department,” the award citation stated. “This was demonstrated over the past few months with her successful efforts in implementing the TraCS system,” a shared accomplishment with Stevens.

Dispatcher Johnna Johnson received the Legacy Award and celebrated her 25th anniversary with SPD in June. Dowell said she has no plans to retire.

“Throughout her years in dispatch, Johnna has been a call taker, a radio operator and a trainer,” Johnson’s citation stated.” She has been a mentor to those who seek her leadership. She has proudly earned the moniker ‘hot-tone Johnna’ because she understands how crucial every second in life or death situations [are].”

Detective Sgt. Brandon Bergstad and Santos were presented with the Marksman Award, which recognizes exceptional shooting proficiency during annual qualifications. Sgt. Nathan Dorfman, Officers Michael Lucas and Steven Willadsen and Community Services Officer Gene “Rock” Kurz were presented with awards for five years of driving with no crashes.

Santos, Officers Jesus Evangelista and Jones marked five years of service, Dorfman marked 10 years of service, Rivero marked 15 years of service and Johnson marked 25 years of service. 

SPD staff members who joined SPD in 2024 were executive assistant Jessica Bryson, victim advocate Jamelah Carswell, community services officer Amy Ford, Community Services Aide Phoenix Stazzone and Officers Andrew Cecere, Austin Guastalli, Robert Joyce, Elizabeth Pedroza and Cole Taylor.