The various law enforcement agencies that responded to the mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino were honored in Los Angeles Tuesday by the Anti-Defamation League for their bravery and their work to investigate threats to the community.
The agencies were collectively honored as one of three group recipients of the “Helene & Joseph Sherwood Family Prize for Combating Hate.” Other groups honored were the Los Angeles Police Department for its Community Safety Partnership Program, a collaboration with the Los Angeles Housing Authority; and human-trafficking investigators from the state Attorney General’s Office, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Long Beach Police Department and City Prosecutors Office.
Carrie Braun, public affairs manager for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, was honored individually for creating the Diversity Advisory Council, which works to foster relationships between law enforcement and the black community, Turkish Muslims and LGBT residents.
“This year’s honorees have taken creative and effective steps to make our communities safer,” said Amanda Susskind, director of the ADL’s Pacific Southwest Region. “Their contributions range from fighting terrorism to reducing hate against the most vulnerable in our society. What they have in common is that they make a tangible difference in protecting the community.”
The agencies honored for their work on the San Bernardino attack that killed 14 people include the San Bernardino Police Department, FBI, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, California Highway Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Attorney’s Office and police departments from Colton, Fontana, Redlands and Rialto.
“This is great recognition by the ADL for the great work that the men and women of our entire county did on Dec. 2,” San Bernardino County Sheriff John McMahon told NBC4 outside the ceremony. “Not just members of the sheriff’s department but all the law enforcement agencies that showed up to help.”
Syed Rizwan Farook, 28, and his immigrant wife, 27-year-old Tashfeen Malik, carried out the Dec. 2 massacre at the Inland Regional Center immediately following a Christmas party there, according to federal authorities. Fourteen people were killed in the mass shooting and 22 others were wounded.
The husband and wife were killed in a shootout with law enforcement officers a few hours later.
The ADL honor recognizes “the bravery and quick response of numerous law enforcement personnel at the time of the attack, as well as those behind the scenes who continue to work tirelessly to investigate ongoing threats and safeguard our community.”
The Sherwood Prizes were awarded at the Skirball Cultural Center. The prize was created in 1996 by Joe and Helene Sherwood, founders of Daniel’s Jewelers, to recognize members of the law enforcement community “that go above and beyond their job descriptions in combating extremism, bigotry and hatred.”
The ceremony also featured a tribute to Joseph Sherwood, who will turn 99 on Saturday.
—City News Service