EDMONDS — Police Explorer Jacob Kimerer couldn’t believe what was happening.
Kimerer and a group of other Explorers were providing security at the Taste of Edmonds festival early on the morning of Aug. 10 when Kimerer learned that two men were seen walking inside the fenced area. They were trespassing.
Explorers soon found themselves face to face with one of the trespassers. “All we had was a flashlight and a police radio,” Kimerer, 16, said. He hoped the man wasn’t armed. He knew what to do, and he hoped it would work.
Kimerer blinded the man with a beam of light from his flashlight. Speaking in a loud and confident voice, he ordered the man to the ground. The man complied.
“This is surreal. This isn’t happening,” the teen recalled thinking at the time.
Police later arrested both trespassers. For their quick and confident actions, the Edmonds Police Department honored Kimerer and fellow Explorers on Friday evening during the department’s annual award ceremony.
“They did a good job,” said Edmonds police Sgt. Jeff Jones, who leads the Explorer program. “They used flashlights to blind him, so he didn’t know if this was kids giving him commands or a police officer.”
The program helps a community like Edmonds, with lots of retirees, see kids in a good light, and not just as troublemakers, Jones said. “Billions are spent on bad kids. This is one program for good kids,” he said.
Explorers learn important life skills, Jones said. Some grow up to become police officers. Kimerer wants to take that path, too.
“It keeps me motivated towards my goal,” he said of the program. “And I like that I hang out with officers.”
Officer Shane Hawley was named officer of the year and awarded the department’s special honor, in memory of former Police Chief David Stern.
People honored at the ceremony included:
Business Award of Excellence: Campbell Nelson Volkswagen, ÂLynnwood Honda
Citizen Service Citation: Police Explorers Jacob Kimerer, Christopher Barker and Austin Barker and Mountlake Terrace Police Explorer Justin Duncan; Phillip Brewer, William Moore, Matthew Stroud, Lisa Andrews and Kelly McClure
Award of Excellence: officer Linda Mack
Letter of Commendation: officers Ross Sutton, Donald Kinney, R. Thomas Smith, Nathaniel Rossi and Michael Bower; detectives David Honnen, Michael Richardson and Steven Morrison; detective Cpl. Ken Ploeger; Cpl. Robert Barker; Sgt. Michael Blackburn; and senior animal control officer Deborah Dawson
Meritorious Service Citation: officer Nathaniel Rossi
Non-Commissioned Employee of the Year: Amy Collins
Chief David Stern Memorial Officer of the Year Award: officer Shane Hawley
Katya Yemifova: 425-339-3452, kyemifova@heraldnet.com.
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