The Exchange Club of Lake Highlands held its quarterly Police and Fire Awards breakfast on Friday at the KayCee Club, honoring two area first responders.
From left, Senior Corporal Daisy Mendoza, ECLH Director of Community Service Micheal Bailey and FRO Officer Andrew Johnson. Photo courtesy of ECLH.
Senior Corporal Daisy Mendoza of DPD and Fire and Rescue Officer Andrew Johnson, nominated by their supervisors, were recognized for their exemplary service.
“Thank you to both of you,” said ECLH President Brent Basden, “for all you do.”
Mendoza, a Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq, has completed assignments on the Violent Crime Task Force and the Dallas Police Crime Reduction Team. Serving in the Northeast Patrol Division, Mendoza was the lead officer in a case which identified and apprehended an organized robbery group who “committed offenses across the Metroplex”.
Senior Corporal Daisy Mendoza is recognized by ECLH Director of Community Service Micheal Bailey. Photo by Austin Wood.
“One, it’s unexpected,” Mendoza said after the ceremony, “but it’s so appreciated because sometimes you get stuck in the day-to-day and sometimes with long hours and nobody really sees that we’ve been at jail for 14, 16 hours. So a lot of the small sacrifices that happen day-to-day, they can feel like they’ve gone unnoticed. So, to see that your supervisors are acknowledging you, that’s a huge, huge deal.”
Johnson, based out of Dallas Fire and Rescue Station 22, was recognized for his passion and commitment to the job.
“I love every bit of it,” Johnson said, “the good, the bad and the ugly.”
