First Responders Honored at 1st annual Imperial Valley, Desert Knights Public Safety Gala
Imperial Valley, CA — The first-ever Desert Knights Imperial Valley Public Safety Gala celebrated the region’s first responders on Friday evening, Oct. 3, at the Casa de la Mañana Building at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds. Approximately 250 attendees gathered to honor those who dedicate their lives to protecting the community.
The event, themed “Desert Knights,” recognized local public safety personnel, giving them a night to enjoy and be celebrated for their service. Ten first responders were honored as “Officer of the Year” from their respective departments, receiving a belt buckle and a certificate of recognition from Assemblyman Jeff Gonzalez, representing the 36th Assembly District.
Recipients included:
Esteban Hernandez, firefighter/paramedic, Calexico Fire Department
Yamilet Venegas, officer, Calexico Police Department
Eloy Martinez, captain, Brawley Fire Department
Javier Martinez, agent, Brawley Police Department
Adam Avila, fire captain, El Centro Fire Department
Carmen Fierro, officer, Imperial Police Department
John Robles, firefighter, Holtville Fire Department
Pedro Velasquez Jr., senior deputy, Imperial County Sheriff’s Office
Salvador Acevedo Jr., officer, California Highway Patrol
Daniel Chin, officer, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Committee President Robert Amparano, who helped organize the gala, said the event exceeded expectations. “From the moment I stepped into the venue, you could see it transformed into a space for our local heroes,” Amparano said. “At the end of the night, people were walking out saying, ‘Thank you for putting this on. We look forward to next year.’ It’s clear this event was a great success.”
Amparano added that plans are already underway for next year’s gala. “We want to reach out to more agencies so that instead of having 10 honorees, we can have one from every agency in Imperial County. We want everyone to participate and be recognized,” he said. “We also want to thank all the community and public safety personnel who helped make this event successful. Next year, we’ll make it even bigger and better for our first responders.”
Pedro Velasquez Jr., senior deputy with the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office, reflected on his award, saying, “It’s very nice of the department to nominate me and get this award. I was very proactive when I started out as a deputy. I even apprehended a homicide suspect out of Los Angeles during a traffic stop, which motivated me to continue catching criminals every day.”
Daniel Chin, officer with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and a former New York City detective during the 9/11 attacks, said, “I think it’s my role that I played during 9/11. I was the first responder there, and I got notified when the first plane hit to respond to Ground Zero.” Chin currently resides in Calexico.
Esteban Hernandez, firefighter/paramedic with Calexico Fire Department and the first-ever recipient of the gala, described the honor as humbling. “This job’s not about awards—it’s about helping people. But it was a great feeling to be recognized. This gala brought all first responders together, and being the first recipient was very humbling,” Hernandez said.
The Desert Knights Imperial Valley Public Safety Gala is set to become an annual tradition, honoring the dedication and service of the region’s first responders.