ATAC Chairperson Lieutenant  John Marinez introduced the Irvine Police Department and California Highway Patrol Combined Honor Guard who presented the United States and California flags on the front stage.  Lieutenant Marinez then introduced Newport Beach Police / OCATT Sergeant Joe Thrasher who led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Lieutenant Marinez then introduced Orange County Sheriffs Department Chaplain Kathleen Rutland who gave the invocation.

Lieutenant Marinez then explained that ATAC was now a subcommittee of the Western States Auto Theft Investigators (WSATI) Association, allowing ATAC to provide donors with the benefits of a tax free organization.

Lieutenant Marinez then introduced and thanked the Orange County Auto Theft Advisory Committee members who put together the awards presentation; Mr. Dan Brogdon, Ms. Martha Jones Joseph, and Ms. Geraldine Gary of the Automobile Club of Southern California; Ms. Sharon Palacios, Sergeant Dennis Frias, and Sergeant Steve Reyes of the California Highway Patrol; Ms. Diana Rummel, the former director of the Crime Prevention Program of Southern California; Mr. Tony Ko, Toyota Motor Credit; Mr. Ted Saraf, LoJack Corporation; and Mr. Gary Labb of the Western States Auto Theft Investigators Association, Southern Chapter (Santa Ana Police Department/OCATT retired).

Lieutenant Marinez then thanked the sponsors of this year's awards presentation, the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association, President Mark Dershem and Executive Director John Sackrison; Toyota Financial Services, Mr. Anthony Ko and Mr. Bart Fleweling; Lojack Corporation, Mr. Ted Saraf; and the National Insurance Crime Bureau.

Lieutenant Marinez spoke about the changes that took place in this year's selection process.  Lieutenant Marinez said that significant pro-active contributions by officers to reduce auto theft, combined with a higher emphasis on "rolling stolens" and significant case highlights were the elements of the criteria to be considered. 

Lieutenant Marinez then introduced the Master of Ceremonies Pat Haslam.  Mr. Haslam has been the voice of Orange County ATAC for the past 16 years.  Mr. Haslam gave an opening address and then welcomed everyone to avail themselves of the breakfast buffet.

After the buffet, Pat Haslam then introduced Mr. Ira Beaty, Law Enforcement Liaison for LoJack Corporation, who conducted the drawing of raffle tickets.  LoJack donated a LoJack tracking device to A.T.A.C. to be raffled off at the brunch in order to secure funds to keep Orange County ATAC going in the future.  Mr. Beaty drew the ticket of CHP/OCATT Investigator Mike Pimental.  Mike can thank CHP/OCATT Lieutenant Rick Pena for making the last second purchase of tickets for Mike.

After the raffle, Pat Haslam then introduced the guest speaker, Automobile Club of Southern California CEO and President Thomas V. McKernan.  Mr. McKernan spoke about his own loss of a classic car as well as how agencies are combating vehicle theft.  Mr. McKernan also advised the Orange County Recovery Officer of the Year recipients would be the guest of the Automobile Club of Southern California at the September NASCAR race at Fontana.  Yes, there were many patrol officers immediately talking to their Lieutenants, Captains, and Chiefs about getting the time off to go.

Pat Haslam then announced the winners as Lieutenant Marinez, with Sergeant Frias assisting, handed out the numerous award plaques and recognition certificates to each of the winners.

Orange County Automobile Dealers Executive Director Mr. John Sackrison was then called to the stage to make a presentation to the top five officers recognized during the awards presentation. 

This year's recipients are (by agency):
 

The Top Five Honorees were:

Officer Randy McWilliams of the Placentia Police Department was honored as the Officer recovering the most stolen vehicles throughout the county, 58 vehicles, including 23 "rolling stolens," resulting in 39 arrests, with a recovery value of $427,000.00.  Officer McWilliams was also his agency's 2004 ATAC Recovery Officer of the Year recipient.  Officer McWilliams was recruited from a small town police agency in Missouri where he was a sworn officer for seven years.  Officer McWilliams quickly adapted to his new surroundings and has developed a talent for vehicle theft investigation.  Officer McWilliams has provided informal training to members of the Placentia Police Department in the area of vehicle theft and has quickly become a role model within his agency.  Officer McWilliams recovered a stolen vehicle driven by a gang member.  During the investigation, Officer McWilliams discovered a suspect in possession of a vehicle key board from an Anaheim dealership containing keys to 30 vehicles of which four had already been stolen.  Officer McWilliams also surveilled a stolen vehicle that ended up going mobile with more gang members in it who committed an additional crime.  Officer McWilliams was presented with a check for his designated charity, the Animal Abuse Prevention Agency, by John Sackrison, Executive Director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association. 

Officer Tom Carney of the Buena Park Police Department was honored as the Officer recovering the second most stolen vehicles throughout the entire county, 66 vehicles, including 22 "rolling stolens," resulting in 40 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $453,846.00.  Officer Carney was also the winner of the 2003 and 2004 ATAC Top Recovery Officer of the Year Awards.  Officer Carney has consistently displayed a "talent" for discovering stolen vehicles.  During 2003, 2004, and 2005, Officer Carney has recovered a total of 227 stolen vehicles.  Officer Carney has uncovered organized theft rings operating in Buena Park and solved other crimes related to the theft of vehicles.  Officer Carney was presented with a check for his designated charity, the Buena Park Police Activity League, by John Sackrison, Executive Director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association. 

Officer Greg Stys of the Santa Ana Police Department was honored as the Officer recovering the third most stolen vehicles in the county, 38 vehicles, including 7 "rolling stolens," resulting in 7 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $304,000.00.  Officer Stys was presented with a check for his designated charity, the Orange County United Way, by John Sackrison, Executive Director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association. 

Officer Dietrich Miessner of the Anaheim Police Department was honored as the Officer recovering the fourth most stolen vehicles in the county, 20 vehicles, including 5 "rolling stolens," resulting in 6 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $200,000.00.  Officer Miessner was presented with a check for his designated charity, the United for Sight, by John Sackrison, Executive Director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association. 

Officer Timothy Haid of the Fullerton Police Department was honored as the Officer recovering the fifth most stolen vehicles in the county, 11 vehicles, including 5 "rolling stolen," resulting in 9 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $38,000.00.   Officer Haid was presented with a check for his designated charity, the Orange County Chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers, by John Sackrison, Executive Director of the Orange County Automobile Dealers Association. 

The Auto Theft Advisory Committee introduced an honorable mention selection this year with a presentation to the following recipients:

Officer Larry Fettis and Jon Doezie of the Costa Mesa Police Department were honored with an honorable mention, recovering 30 stolen vehicles, including 13 "rolling stolens," resulting in 17 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $378,000.00.  Officers Fettis and Doezie were able to accomplish this impressive feat as partners secondary to their primary assignment of targeting criminal offenders on parole or probation in the high crime areas of the city.  Officers Fettis' and Doezie's proactive enforcement in the area of vehicle theft has set a high standard for their colleagues in the Costa Mesa Police Department to strive for.

Officer Manny Arzate of the Tustin Police Department was honored with an honorable mention, recovering 9 stolen vehicles, including 4 "rolling stolen," resulting in 6 arrests, with a recovery value of approximately $45,000.00.   Officer Arzate located an abandoned stolen vehicle and subsequently made an arrest in the case.  While transporting the suspect to jail, the suspect pointed out a cold plated stolen vehicle ahead of their car.  Officer Arzate requested assistance and an enforcement stop resulted in two more vehicle theft arrests. 

Special thanks to the following organizations for participating and sponsoring the Orange County Auto Theft Advisory Committee (A.T.A.C.) and its Officer of the Year Program.