2007

This years honorees are Detective Kevin Wiens, Fresno County Sheriff's Department; Officer Gunter Meiss, Fresno Police Department; and Officer Rob Avila, California Highway Patrol. All were selected for this honor by their respective agencies for their outstanding work and accomplishments.

The Top Cops program was created by the efforts of two of our members, Dr. Tocchio and the late Dr. Arthur Margosian, professor emeritus of Journalism at CSUF in 1988 as a tribute to our law enforcement officers. It was their desire to find a way to acknowledge and thank the men and women who daily place their lives on the line so we can enjoy a safer community.

Since the program's inception 18 years ago in Fresno, the Top Cops program has been duplicated by Exchange Clubs nationwide, and remains one of the favorite programs of local Exchange members.

The honorees this year are---

Officer Rob Avila

...a graduate of the CHP academy in 1995. He has served in the Altadena area, the Coalinga area and the Fresno area. He has shown his enthusiasm for every assignment he has been tasked with. Along with general road atrol duties, Officer Avila is also a drug recognition expert, officer in charge, officer safety instrkuctor, area range officer and area representative. He represnts the qualities that make up a CHP officer, character, knowledge, integrity, honor, lotalty, good judgment and courtesy. He is always ready to accept new assignments and is an officer that you can count on to get the job done.

Fresno County Sheriff's Department

Detective Kevin Wiens

...is currently assigned to the Fresno Sheriff's Department/Immigrations Customs Enforcement Child Predator Task Force. The primary goal of that task force is to prevent the abuse of children in regards to internet crimes against children, including the production and distribution of child pornography, internet predators attempting to lure children and educating the public on steps to take that safeguard our children. Detective Wiens has been a leader in the California law enforcement community in these matters. Detective Wiens does a job that is sometimes thankless and forces him to deal with the dredges of society, but he continues to carry out his job in a manner that exemplifies what a "Top Cop" should be.

Fresno Police Department

Officer Gunter Meiss

...worked as a patrol officer in the Central Policing District, Southwest Policing District and the Northeast Policing District. Officer Meiss was selected for the Violent Crime Suppression Unit and was with the unit for five years. He was then appointed to the newly formed Parole Suppression Unit in 2002 and has been serving as the acting sergeant. Gunter has been from month to month the most productive member of the Parole Suppression Unit. He is on of the most knowledgeable team members regarding parole procedures. He is also a member of the department's SWAT team and is the assistant team leader of one of the Entry Teams. In August, 2007, Officer Meiss was selected for a position on the Street Violence Bureau Tactical Team which is an undercover surveillance unit that focuses on apprehending violent offenders wanted for homicide and robbery.

Assistant Sheriff Jeff Hollis, Fresno County Sheriffs Department

Sergeant Todd Spino, California Highway Patrol

Chief Jerry Dyer, Fresno Police Department

Program co-hosts Dr. Otto Tocchio and Michael Margosian, Attorney at Law.

Members and Guests

Updated Nov, 2007