Trutanich and Garcetti among honorees at E&B Gala

Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen 'Nuch' Trutanich

Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen "Nuch" Trutanich will be honored at this year's Eagle & Badge Gala September 26th, announced Event Chair Arthur M. Kassel and Vice Chair Peter Repovich. "With an impressive record in both the Hard Core Gang Unit and the Environment Crimes Unit while serving as a Deputy District Attorney, Carmen Trutanich has now renewed his dedication to the people of Los Angeles in his new role as City Attorney. His commitment to law enforcement, the citizens, and the youth of our City, along with his passion for the environment, are all strong qualities that made him a unanimous choice as one of this year's honorees."

Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti

Joining Trutanich will be L.A. City Council President Eric Garcetti, whose commitment to affecting street-level change has engendered solutions to many of the city’s biggest challenges. A councilmember since 2001 and president since 2005, Garcetti has led the effort to endow the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; cut taxes for more than half of the city’s businesses; wrote and served as paladin of Proposition O to clean local water and increased employment opportunities. Within his 13th Council District, Garcetti has soldiered the community through cleaning up graffiti, ensuring the availability of after-school programs for kids and building new parks.

AltaMed Health Services Corporation President/CEO Cástulo de la Rocha

Also being honored this year is both AltaMed Health Services Corporation and its President/CEO Cástulo de la Rocha. Under de la Rocha’s tutelage, AltaMed is a leading provider of comprehensive health and human services to low-income patients in Los Angeles and Orange County, as well as the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in California and one of the top five largest in the nation. Hispanic Business Magazine has awarded AltaMed the top position on its annual list of “Top 25 Nonprofits” every year since 2006. Individually, de la Rocha has also earned numerous national awards, including the U.S. Surgeon General’s Gold Medallion for Public Health and a position among Latino Leaders’ top-10 Latinos in health care, to name only a few.

CBS-2 Sports Director Jim Hill

The fourth honoree this year is Emmy-award winning broadcaster Jim Hill. Hill is the CBS-2 Sports Director anchoring the sports desk weekdays and hosting the Sunday Night Sports Final. A dynamic and respected presence in the Los Angeles community, he has received numerous honors including a coveted star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jim serves on the boards of many charities, including the Los Angeles Urban League, the Boy Scouts of America, and the Grossman Burn Center. He is also the official spokesperson for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. In addition, Hill is a member of the State of California Governor's Board for Physical Fitness and Sports and a member of the President's Council for Physical Fitness.

Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Harvey C. Barnum, Jr.

Rounding out this year’s honorees is Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. Barnum is the fourth Marine to receive the military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his selfless display of valor while serving in Vietnam. As a marine officer for more than 27 1/2 years, Barnum served multiple tours as an artilleryman with the 3rd and 2nd Marine Divisions and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1962. Barnum has also received myriad medals and decorations, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal and Navy Commendation Medal, among others. In his current position, he manages manpower, equipment, budgeting, policy and all other matters for the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve.

Los Angeles Police Department
2009 Medal of Valor Recipients

Officer Enrique Anzaldo, Officer Fernando Avila, Officer Jesus Carrillo, Officer William Casey, Officer Lyman Doster, Officer Jeffrey Ennis, Officer Jeanette Flores, Officer Robert Gallegos, Sergeant Christopher Gomez, Officer Laura Gonzalez, Sergeant Gina Holmstrom, Sergeant Sean Kinchla, Sergeant Chester McMillion, Officer Dennis O’Sullivan, Officer Eduardo Perez, Officer Todd Rheingold, Officer Vincent Rojas, Officer Joseph Rubert, Officer Heriberto Salazar, Officer Daniel Sanchez, Officer Benjamin Santero, Sergeant Hayley Smith, Officer David Stambaugh, Officer Maura Tercero, Reserve Officer Peter Vanderburgh.

The Medal of Valor Award is the Los Angeles Police Department’s highest and most prestigious honor. It is awarded to officers who have gone above and beyond the normal demands of police service and who have displayed acts of extreme courage while consciously facing imminent peril.

They are the finest examples of the “men and women in blue”

who protect and serve each one of us every day.