Sheriff Michael Johnson addresses the Exchange Club of Redding and guests.
Heather Hadwick said she had extra appreciation for law enforcement on Wednesday when she delivered the keynote speech during the Exchange Club of Redding’s 52nd annual Peace Officer of the Year awards luncheon.
The Republican assemblywoman from Alturas, who represents the sprawling 1st District, said public safety was on her mind after recently dealing with Senate Bill 627, the “No Secret Police Act.” Signed into law Saturday by Gov. Gavin Newsom, SB 627 makes it a misdemeanor for a law enforcement officer to wear a mask or personal disguise while interacting with the public.
Assemblywoman Heather Hadwick opposed Gov. Newsom’s masking bill. (c) Jon Lewis
Not only did she oppose the measure, calling it “a bad bill,” “ignorant” and “a messaging piece,” Hadwick said she took extreme exception “to the way they talked about law enforcement on the floor” of the Capitol, and specifically the disrespect that was displayed.
Rest assured, she told the police officers, sheriff’s deputies, highway patrol officers, probation officers, parole agents and investigators gathered in the Win-River Casino Event Center, “District 1 appreciates you.”
Hadwick said law enforcement officers from throughout Shasta County, and their families, should be honored for the sacrifices they make, their willingness to accept risk and the valor they display. She described valor as “not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.”
“We are safer, stronger and better for your actions,” Hadwick said.
David Shoffner, the emcee, called this the safest room in California. (c) Jon Lewis
That sense of security wasn’t lost on David Shoffner, the Exchange Club’s president-elect who served as the emcee and chair of the awards luncheon program. “Welcome to the safest room in California,” he said with a smile before introducing the dignitaries, guests and sponsors.
Shoffner had asked the department heads of eight agencies to select an officer to be honored as the peace officer of the year for 2024.
Shasta County Sheriff’s Office nominee: Deputy Nate Baker
Nate Baker
The first to be acknowledged was Shasta County Sheriff’s Deputy Nate Baker, who was unable to attend. Sheriff Michael Johnson said Baker was completing training at an FBI bomb technician school.
A Shasta High School graduate, Baker went on to earn an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Shasta College and a bachelor’s degree from Sacramento State University. Baker worked in the sheriff’s patrol division and as a resource officer at West Valley High School before starting his current assignment as a patrol deputy in Shasta Lake.
Johnson cited Baker’s ability to defuse tense situations with sound judgment. “I always tell the officers I work with, and I learned this as a young officer myself: you need to learn to toggle between being a warrior when you’re dealing with the worst of the worst and being a compassionate, empathetic public servant when dealing with the pillars of our society or people who are victims. Deputy Baker does this very well.”
Redding Police Department nominee: Kristen Blehm
Kristen Blehm (c) Jon Lewis
Enterprise High School graduate Kristen Blehm began her law enforcement career with the Redding Police Department after earning degrees at Shasta College and Sacramento State. After working in patrol and as a school resource officer, Blehm was promoted to investigations and worked in financial crimes, elder abuse, sex crimes, child abuse and major crimes.
After eight years as an investigator with the Shasta County District Attorney’s office, Blehm accepted a position with the state’s Department of Cannabis Control, leading investigators in regulating and investigating licensed marijuana grows.
In 2021, she launched her career as a parole agent with the California Department of Corrections and is currently assigned to a GPS sex offender management program. Blehm’s supervisor, Parole Agent III Joseph Eldridge, said her position requires her to respond to the field at all hours when sex offenders disable or cut their monitors.
“Her work ethic is so strong that tasks need to be pried away from her, and she is visibly irritated if she waives any case specifications,” Eldridge said. Blehm has to balance offender rehabilitation against community safety and she’s effective with both “in that she hammers those who need enforcement action, but has the ability to work toward rehabilitation for those willing to participate,” Eldridge added.
California Highway Patrol Redding Area nominee: Jesse Rogers
Redding native and Navy veteran Jesse Rogers was the officer honored from the California Highway Patrol’s Redding Area and Lt. Brandon Lale opened his presentation by noting several in the room had multiple decades in the law enforcement profession.
Jesse Rogers
“Every once in a while, in your careers, you come across somebody with that magic, that ‘it’ factor, that natural innate leadership ability that people look up to. People that boost morale—I know I’m killing you, sorry—and that’s Jesse,” Lale said as his colleague smiled sheepishly.
Rogers joined the CHP in 2009 and spent three years in Garberville, before transferring to the Northern Division office in Redding where he worked in training, recruitment and complex investigations. He returned to patrol duties in 2024.
It was a year ago in August when Rogers responded to a call of a single-vehicle accident on Highway 44 near Airport Road and discovered a female passenger trapped in a burning car. Rogers used a fire extinguisher to combat the flames before attempting to remove the injured passenger. At one point Rogers crawled through the rear window in an effort to reach the passenger, receiving third-degree burns to his hands and lung damage from inhaling smoke.
The car was soon engulfed in flames and Rogers had to extricate himself, after which he dragged two other incapacitated passengers to safety. The female passenger succumbed to her injuries. For his heroics, Rogers was awarded the Medal of Valor, California’s highest honor.
Redding Police Chief Brian Barner nominee: Devin Ketel
Devin Ketel
Devin Ketel was selected by Redding Police Chief Brian Barner to represent his department. A Redding police officer since 2014, Ketel is a field training officer, defensive tactics instructor and a member of the Shasta County Child Abduction Response Team.
Barner said Ketel has the distinction of serving on the department’s first Crisis Intervention Response Team. “He was the perfect member to ensure success” of the CIRT program, Barner said, noting how Ketel created several partnerships and friendships with local nonprofits to help those in crisis.
Devin Ketel in line. (c) Jon Lewis
Ketel also volunteers as a mentor with LifeCampUSA, a faith-based camp for middle school-aged children who lost their fathers in the line of duty (law enforcement and firefighting) or suicide if the parent served in the military.
Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett nominee: Brad Harms
Brad Harms, an investigator, was the pick from Shasta County District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett. Although Harms has only been with the DA’s office for two years, he brings 32 years’ worth of law enforcement experience to the job.
Brad Harms
Harms started with the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department and worked with three of their contract cities: San Ramon, Danville and Orinda. He also had stints with the Dixon and Kensington police departments. He was previously named Officer of the Year in 2000 for the San Ramon Police Department and in 2020 for the Kensington department.
“His humble hardworking nature is evident to anybody who works with him,” Bridgett said. She added that a colleague said Harms “leads with a quiet confidence and unshakeable integrity” and “brings not only skills to the job, but heart.”
Shasta County Probation Department adult division nominee: John Strain
John Strain
John Strain, the lead officer in Shasta County Probation Department’s adult division, was selected for Officer of the Year honors by Chief Probation Officer Tracie Neal. In his lead officer role, Strain supervises individuals released from prison into Post Release Community Supervision.
Strain mentors new staff members and provides training in caseload management, offender engagement and preparation of court documents. According to Neal, Strain has successfully organized multiple field operations and continues to be a valued armed officer for the Probation Department.
“He is a respected team player, a trusted mentor, and a highly capable leader,” Neal said.
Shasta County Marshal’s Office nominee: Emily Randall
Shasta County Marshal Joel Northrup described his nominee, Emily Randall, as “an amazing deputy marshal. She is a peace officer who truly cares about others.”
Emily Randall
A mother of four, Randall’s dedication to her community is illustrated by her family’s habit of taking walks to clean up the trails around their home, Northrup said. “Not only does she handle calls for service and proactively deals with problems, (she) also goes out of her way to help those in need. Her calm, professional demeanor often times resolves issues before they become big problems.”
Anderson Police Department nominee: Jesse Mayfield
Arriving to work each day with “a sense of purpose, a relentless work ethic, and an optimism that inspires those around him” are some of the qualities that earned Anderson Police Officer Jesse Mayfield a nomination from Anderson Police Chief Oliver Collins.
Jesse Mayfield
Mayfield joined the department in 2021 and quickly built a reputation as a trustworthy and highly respected police officer, Collins said. His ability to remain level-headed under pressure has helped him a reputation as the best backup officer in the department, Collins added.
“His enthusiasm is contagious, making him not only an exceptional officer but also a role model and leader among his peers. The Anderson Police Department is proud to celebrate an officer who represents the very best of this noble profession—one built on trust, service and sacrifice,” Collins said.
In addition to the Peace Officer of the Year program, the 24-member Exchange Club of Redding also presents a Firefighter of the Year awards luncheon and the Student of the Month recognition program.
The Exchange Club of Redding will also host the upcoming Redding Oktoberfest on Oct. 11 at Tiger Fields in Redding.
Money raised through club fundraisers ($1.2 million since the club was founded in 1973) supports a variety of local charities, youth groups and volunteer organizations.
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