Pueblo police recognized during awards assembly

Pueblo police officers were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty.

About two dozen officers were presented with awards during the department’s fourth annual awards luncheon at Pueblo Community College.

Officer Chad Garcia was among the honorees. He was the first officer to respond to a July 14 call of an armed robbery at Walgreens off of Highway 50 West and Morris Ave.

Garcia said he waited about four minutes for officers to arrive. He ended up in a standoff with the suspect, Jefferson Thede, outside the store. Thede surrendered without incident four hours later.

“It’s nice to be recognized,” Garcia said. “This is our job. We don’t go out there looking for awards, but it’s definitely nice to be recognized for what we do out there.”

Another officer, Sgt. James Olonia, received a Chief’s Award of Merit for arresting a suspect in a 30-year-old cold case.