Cordero: Longtime SPPD officer, interim chief honored by Chamber
July 13, 2012
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
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Interim Police Chief Ishmael Cordero |
A longtime veteran of the Santa Paula Police Department with a diversified crime-fighting career was honored as the Public Safety Officer of the Quarter at the July Good Morning Santa Paula.
The Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event was held at the Glen Tavern Inn. Enzo’s, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, provided the breakfast enjoyed by guests at the meeting.
City Councilman Fred Robinson, who regularly attends the Good Morning Santa Paula gatherings, was on hand, and attendees at the July 10 meeting also welcomed Council members Rick Cook and Jim Tovias as well as City Manager Jaime Fontes. Usually the police chief introduces the award recipient, but it was Fontes who lauded Interim Police Chief Ishmael Cordero.
“It’s an honor to present the police officer of the quarter award,” said Fontes. “What can you say about a person who is a constant” presence, “an individual raised in Santa Paula” who forged a career in his hometown.
Cordero graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1978, and Fontes said that for the next eight and a half years Cordero served in the U.S. Marines Corps, where he served as an officer in the Military Police.
Following his service Cordero became a SPPD reserve officer, and shortly thereafter in 1987 a full-time sworn officer.
In 1991 Cordero was assigned full-time to a Ventura County Narcotics Task Force. “While on assignment he traveled all over doing investigations,” said Fontes, including to Houston, where Cordero was involved in a case centered on an international drug cartel. “He went to all the hot spots.”
Fontes said Cordero was honored as the Santa Paula Police Officer of the Year twice, and received a Ventura County Police Officers Association Medal of Valor “for going above and beyond” the call of duty. In addition, Cordero is the past president of the Santa Paula Police Officers Association: “My first exposure to Ish,” noted Fontes, “was on the other side of a negotiating table.”
Cordero’s career as a SPPD sergeant and detective had Cordero spending the “majority of his time in the investigative unit. He was the lead investigator, and over the course of this he was the lead investigator of homicides, all that had successful outcomes.”
Police Chief Steve MacKinnon was placed on paid administrative leave in April and terminated June 5. Fontes said when Cordero was asked to become the interim police chief in April, “Without hesitation he accepted. He is an integral part of the SPPD in leading the police department and civilian” personnel.
Cordero is not one to “sit around and do nothing,” and Fontes said he is overseeing a new Police Cadet program, two new part-time positions expected to be filled by criminal justice majors who will patrol the Downtown to issue tickets and enforce other parking ordinances that provide revenue to the city. Cordero is also “revamping” some units and getting ready for a city management role in negotiations.
Said Fontes, “Ish calls Santa Paula home, always has,” and is involved in youth sports and the Santa Paula Elementary School District Personnel Commission. “He has unflinching loyalty to this city, a high work ethic, and unquestioned honesty,” said Fontes.
Good Morning Santa Paula Moderator Ben Schuck presented the Chamber award and thanked Cordero for “what you’ve been doing your whole working life, not just for yourself but for the community. Children are safer on our streets, live better lives, the downtown area,” all are better, noted Schuck, “because of your years of service.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to receive this award,” although, Cordero said, “I didn’t join the police department for that reason... when I came out of the Marine Corps I didn’t know what I was going to do. But because of my brother-in-law,” retired SPPD Officer Henry Aguilar, as well as retired Officer Cook - who both “pushed” Cordero to join the force - he found his career.
“I also want to thank my wife,” Annette, “for encouraging me to lead and do the job.... I’m having a ball” leading the turnkey operation, Cordero noted. “It’s a challenge to me, but not that hard... you just have to make the right decision.... I thank the city manager and the council for having the trust and confidence in me to do the job.”
