Sheriff Awards Honor Concerned Citizens

Last April, Eva Montano was waiting for a train on Harvard Road after dropping her son off at school when she noticed a car crashing through a field nearby.

Montano and Liza Erickson ran to the car and found an elderly woman suffering a heart attack.

They performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

The two were given Good Samaritan awards by Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk Friday.

“It’s important to show other people they need to help if they can,” Montano said.

Sterk presented awards at a ceremony Friday to law officers, SCOPE volunteers and citizens who went the extra mile to help others.

Two Valley residents were given Good Samaritan awards for pulling an elderly man from his car just before it burst into flames after a crash along Interstate 90 in April.

“I just wish more people would do that. A lot of other people saw (the accident) and kept going,” said Kenneth Whitney, who was honored along with Michael Webb and Spokane resident David Mowry.

Ryan Evans and Matt Ward were also given awards for stopping a suicidal man from jumping off a bridge at Barker Road. Evans wrestled the man to the ground while Ward called sheriff’s deputies.

Sterk presented the Medal of Merit to Sgt. Steve Barbieri, and Deputies Mark Smoldt, Eric Johnson and Brett Peterson for their work to fight crime in the Edgecliff neighborhood.

Sterk also gave concerned citizen awards to two Valley residents.

Last April, Michael Cosentino was at home listening to his scanner when he heard about a shoplifting occurring at the Spokane Valley Mall. A guard was assaulted and the suspects ran away on foot. Cosentino saw the suspects and called the Sheriff’s Office.

Jesse Knutson, an employee at Tidyman’s on South McKinnon Road, chased a robbery suspect from the store. He and Frederick Fritts tackled the suspect and made a citizen’s arrest, holding the man until deputies arrived.

Valley SCOPE groups also had the chance to vote on their volunteers of the year. The following SCOPE volunteers were recognized at the ceremony Friday: Jackie Ash, the president of Edgecliff SCOPE makes volunteering at the office a full-time job. She puts in 160 hours each month coordinating the Edgecliff SCOPE volunteers and working with the Department of Corrections officer and patrol deputy who work out of the Edgecliff SCOPE station.

Virginia Smith is on the board of directors for the Newman Lake SCOPE. The active 80-year-old has taken on the responsibility of calling SCOPE members to remind them of meetings and functions.

Ann Richey is the co-president at University SCOPE. Richey was instrumental in helping University SCOPE become a leader in the Operation ID program in schools. This program fingerprints and photographs children to aid law enforcement if the child disappears.

Rick Vermeers is a co-founder of Central Valley SCOPE. His leadership, both as a board member and co-chairman has helped guide the program while allowing members to feel ownership of the group.

Ray Westlake is on the Fairfield SCOPE board of directors. He shows his dedication by loaning a car for every citizens’ patrol that has been held in Fairfield. He has also donated countless hours to volunteer at the SCOPE station in Fairfield.

Teresa Campbell is the president of Trentwood SCOPE. She is actively involved in many of Trentwood’s programs. She also regularly attends other SCOPE meetings to show support for the program.

Glen Leimkuhler, a member of SCOPE East since 1995, is in charge of Citizens On Patrol. He devotes many nights every week to the program. He also helped teach members how to use a computer.