CLEARLAKE >> Chris Kelleher was on routine duty in July when a house fire broke out. Responding to the call, Kelleher rushed into the home and helped an elderly woman escape.
Acting Police Chief Tim Celli took a moment before the Clearlake City Council to honor Kelleher for his actions, as well as to introduce new officers who will also contribute to the safety of the community.
“Police do wonderful things every day — police, firefighters and first responders,” Celli pointed out. “Oftentimes what they do get overlooked as just doing part of the job. But we want to recognize Chris Kelleher because in July of this year he did something that I believe needs to be recognized.”
Officers often find themselves in situations that require quick decisions. On the evening in question, fire and smoke belched from a Clearlake house. Uncertain whether all residents had evacuated, Kelleher hurried inside. He found the woman trying to reach her walker so she could escape. He pulled her to safety without injury.
“It’s a tough call for a police officer when it comes to fire because they are not equipped for handling those types of situations,” Celli said. “But this officer went in without hesitation and without any thought to his own danger. I am proud of him, as we all should be.”
New officers being recognized over the past few months include both Patrol Officers and Animal Control Officers. Joining Animal Control are Melinda Wymer and John Moretz.
“These two officers are new Animal Control Officers, Melinda started before the Sulphur Fire however with all the action going on we were unable to introduce her,” Celli said. “Moretz is so new, in fact, he does not even have his uniform yet. It is still being tailored.”
Three new officers have been added to the police force are Mauricio Barreto, Jonathan Reynolds and Cali Batz, the youngest officer the force has ever hired.
Barreto has a great deal of background in law enforcement, mostly within the county. When working with the Lake County Sheriff Office he received an award for his efforts during the Valley Fire.
“I’m going to quote what he said because I think it’s special: ‘When I’m not working I spend my time with my family and I try to better myself every day by learning something new during my workdays I try to serve the community of Clearlake and make the lives of the citizens better every day. I like to leave everyone I have contact with better than how I found them,’” Celli said.
Reynolds was born and raised in Lake County and worked for his family’s trucking business in Middletown before putting himself through the Police Academy. Celli said as far as he knows Reynolds is the first person to graduate from the Academy in a Clearlake Police Department uniform.
Batz started the process to become an officer in Clearlake when she was 19 and finished a year later. She said she always wanted to go into law enforcement and idolize her favorite uncle who was the only other law enforcement member in her family.
