Deputy David Buettner and depot firefighter Jesus Ortega III were selected from among seven public-safety officers honored Saturday, Feb. 9, at the annual American Legion Law and Order Night.
A three-person panel from the local American Legion chapter determined the duo will represent the south county in June at the state convention of the American Legion in Palm Springs, said John Treantos, commander of Tracy’s James McDermott Legion Post.
“All of those recognized at the dinner have outstanding qualifications, but the judges felt the accomplishments of Buettner and Ortega topped the group,” Treantos said.
Buettner, 56, was recognized as Officer of the Year in the south county for his 27 years of service with the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department and 23 years as volunteer assistant chief of the Jenny Lind Fire Department.
As the daytime patrol officer in the south county, Buettner was able to identify the suspects of a Nov. 5 break-in to the Owens-Illinois glass factory.
Ortega, 35, was selected as Firefighter of the Year in the south county in recognition of his 15-year career in the fire service, which started while he was in the U.S. Air Force.
He has been a firefighter-paramedic with the Defense Distribution Depot San Joaquin Fire Department the past four years.
Ortega has been instrumental in the development of the Advanced Life Support program at the DLA facility, and he is a master sergeant in the Air Force Reserve and first sergeant of a civil engineering squadron at Travis Air Force Base.
• Contact Sam Matthews at 830-4234 or shm@tracypress.com.
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