Exemplary Performance Award
Detective Charles Sullivan
Anaheim Police Department
Detective Charles Sullivan of the Anaheim Police Department has made a name for himself as a top-notch Robbery/Homicide Investigator who just can’t let go. He has investigated a number of homicide cases to their conclusion that many investigators would have shelved after becoming cold with dead-ends.
On December 15, 2000, Detective Sullivan was assigned to handle the robbery and murder investigation of 65-year-old Korean liquor store owner Haeng Kim, who was robbed at gunpoint by two thugs and shot in the back. As Mr. Kim was crawling to the front door on his hands and knees, one of the suspects shot him in the back of the head, killing him. Although this shocking murder was captured on the store’s videotape and later broadcast on television, the tape was of poor quality. Detective Sullivan worked this case tirelessly for four years, exhibiting persistence and determination to bring these killers to justice, despite running into numerous dead-ends.
Through tenacious interviewing skills and his refusal to give up on the case, he was able to learn the identities of the suspects. Although the information he had obtained would have probably been good enough to arrest the suspects, he knew that it probably would not have been enough to get a conviction in court. Detective Sullivan continued working hard trying to learn where the suspects had fled to after the murder. After putting out feelers and a request for assistance to nationwide law enforcements, he was contacted by Fugitive Apprehension Detectives from the New York City Police Department, about one of the suspects who had fled to NYC after the Anaheim murder, and who committed another murder in NYC. A witness in NYC gave detectives information about the location of the second suspect, who was the shooter.
Detective Sullivan learned that the shooter in his case was now living in Independence, Missouri, and that he was in custody on a minor charge. Detective Sullivan flew to Kansas City and interviewed the suspect while he was in custody. He was able to get the shooter to confess to this shocking crime on videotape and to voluntarily return to California to face charges. Thanks to Detective Sullivan’s perseverance and refusal to let go in this case, Mr. Kim’s murderer is now at the Orange County Jail facing robbery and murder charges with special circumstances.
The Golden Badge Foundation is honored to present its Exemplary Performance Award to Detective Charles Sullivan.
Exemplary Performance Award
Special Agent Ken Bambrick
California Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement, Riverside
Special Agent Ken Bambrick has worked with youth and community groups since 2002 in both Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. He assisted with the creation of SHIELD (Safeguarding schools and community, Healthy lifestyles, Intervention, Educational programs, Law Enforcement collaboration, Developing positive community assets) program, which assists local law enforcement in the prevention and education of school children and their community with the problems of drug abuse.
Ken conducted the “Drug Store” program in the cities of Chino and Montclair, which was attended by more than 900 children from both cities. He also conducted an essay contest after the Drug Store program that was titled “How they have the power to make healthy choices,” where six winners were given awards by the Chino City Council. Ken also assists Riverside County with its DEC (Drug Endangered Children) program and has taught different law enforcement agencies in Riverside, San Bernardino Orange and Los Angeles Counties on the principles of DEC.
Ken is active with a Youth Camp program for troubled kids, sponsored by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, which is geared to educate children on making positive choices in their lives. The program is conducted in the mountains of San Bernardino County and the children are taken on hikes, given educational and motivational speeches, which help them physically and mentally in their lives and attempts to keep them away from drug abuse and gangs. He also assisted with the Riverside County Education Department’s Health Expo Fair.
Ken continues to address the Department of Justice’s willingness to help local law enforcement and community agencies with any type of prevention and education needed in their communities and school districts. Ken’s work ethic and tireless efforts go above and beyond his call to duty.
The Golden Badge Foundation is pleased to present the Exemplary Performance Award to Special Agent Ken Bambrick.
