Sequim Sunrise Rotary recently recognized three local law enforcement employees — one each from the Clallam County Sheriff’s Department, Sequim Police Department and Washington State Patrol — as their Officers of the Year.
Trooper John M. Ryan
Washington State Patrol Trooper Ryan is a 12-year trooper assigned to the Port Angeles Detachment. In a letter recommending the veteran trooper, his nominator wrote that “Ryan exemplifies the highest qualities that are expected of a Washington State trooper. (He) takes pride in participating and supporting local programs in the community.”
Ryan is a line trooper assigned to traffic law enforcement responsibilities in Clallam and Jefferson counties. He is also a Drug Recognition Expert who utillizes his training and expertise in recognizing and removing the impaired driver from the roadways.
He has been asked by other law enforcement agencies to assist their officers in conducting evaluations of their drivers who are suspected of driving under the influence. According to co-workers, his expertise is invaluable in vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, and fatality scene investigations.
As a Field Training Officer, his duties are to train, evaluate and mentor Trooper Cadets in the field to prepare them to perform the duties as a Line Trooper assigned to Field Operations Bureau.
In 2010, Ryan had 17 DUI arrests, 757 speed contacts, 270 seatbelts, 134 aggressive drivers and contacted 1,384 total violators. He also handled 40 collisions and assisted the motoring public 485 times.
Deputy Shane Martin
Colleagues noted that, in continuing a trend of exemplary performance and productivity demonstrated in 2009, Deputy Martin outperformed the greater majority of all fellow deputies in all measured performance categories in 2010.
Martin made 40 arrests as a result of investigations he conducted and served an additional 44 arrest warrants. He conducted 300 traffic stops related to traffic violations committed in his presence, of which a department high of 85 traffic infractions and/or notices of correction were issued.
Additionally, this productivity occurred while performing his patrol assignment in the rural West End communities of Clallam County. Clallam County’s West End encompasses the majority of Clallam County’s overall land mass of roughly 975 square miles, while containing only about 16 percent of all its residents.
In a letter recommending the deputy, colleagues noted that Martin produces statistical numbers in this environment equal to and greater than those fellow deputies who patrol the more populated and less geographically challenging communities of Clallam County. “He does so with extreme diligence, professional competence and tact,” they said.
Master Police Officer Mike Hill
Officer Hill was voted by the supervisory staff of the Sequim Police Department to receive the Officer of the Year Award, in recognition of his commitment to the department’s mission and his performance in the areas of overall job performance, community involvement, professional conduct and serving as a role model for his peers, youth and the community at large.
Hill has worked selflessly for the department at a number of levels, colleagues say. He has been acknowledged to be a leader in self-initiated activity, including meeting the requirements for Master
Police Officer — the first officer in the department to do so.
He exceeded the requirement for the Target Zero traffic award for the second year in a row. Hill received the Washington State Police Canine Association’s Master Handler Certificate and through numerous demonstrations at public events. He and police dog Chase have notably expanded the K-9 program’s public outreach effort. Hill and Chase often are found conducting demonstrations and speaking in schools and retirement communities.
Hill also has demonstrated leadership through his significant contributions to the Poliice Canine community by creating training opportunities for other law enforcement K-9 teams in the region.
Hill provided training for his department and other agencies in both rifle and pistol tactical qualifications and defensive tactics, and developed the department’s Active Shooter Training course that was specifically designed to prepare police officers to respond to a Columbine type of incident.
