Law Enforcement Recognition Night
In 1992, each police department in the County of San Diego, the Sheriff’s Department, the Harbor Police, and the Highway Patrol were first invited to nominate a candidate for the title of the Scottish Rite’s Officer of the Year. The annual event has grown to include the police departments of the San Diego Unified School District as well as several college district departments. A committee of Scottish Rite members with law enforcement backgrounds selects our Officer of Year from that pool of candidates based on outstanding accomplishments in the performance of duties during the past year. This July event is one of our most popular because it attracts the attendance of civic officials and leading members of the community in addition to those honored and their superiors.
In 2019, the following officers were nominated by their agencies:
Corporal Travis Anderson - Carlsbad Police Department
Officer Matthew Cavataio - California Highway Patrol
Agent Anthony Molina - Chula Vista Police Dept
Officer Bill Hughes - Coronado Police Dept
Detective Jesse Sandoval - El Cajon Police Dept
Officer Jake Houchin - Escondido Police Dept
Officer Peter West - La Mesa Police Dept
Detective Aaron DePascale - National City Police Dept
Detective Brent Keys - Oceanside Police Dept
Officer Matthew Torres - SD Community College Police Dept
DAI Edward Tugashov - SD District Attorney's Office
Corporal Thomas Bland - SD Harbor Police Dept
Detective Jana Beard - San Diego Police Dept
Deputy Probation Officer Carmen Estrella - SD Probation Dept
Detective Douglas Morse - San Diego Sheriff's Office
Officer Marcos Gobbi - SD Unified School District Police Dept
