When she arrived at work at the Burbank Police Department on the morning of January 26, 2005, {BCEA member} Victoria Payson had a message waiting for her from Glendale police.

She and co-worker {BCEA member} Celeste Patchett, both forensic specialists for the department, were dispatched to the Metrolink train derailment, which killed 11 people and was considered a crime scene.

"One of the their own (forensic specialists) had been critically injured [in the crash], so they were short handed," Payson said of the Glendale department. "They were looking for additional help."

Payson and Patchett collected evidence from inside one of the derailed train cars. They also photographed and took evidence from two places where Juan Manuel Alvarez was before and after the crash.

Alvarez, 25, was charged with 11 counts of murder and one count of arson causing great bodily injury for allegedly placing his Jeep Grand Cherokee on the railroad tracks, triggering the derailment.

For that work, the specialists were awarded the Professional Esteem Award from the Burbank department.

the pair were surprised they received the award because they felt they were just going what they were trained to do, said Payson, who has been with the Burbank Police for four year. "We did feel honored that Glendale called us to ask for our assistance," Payson said.

Police Chief Thomas Hoefel handed out Professional Esteem Awards and Police Medals at the March 1, 2005 City Council meeting. Six police officers and three civilian employees received honors.

"It may be several months from the time of the incident until it is recognized," Jet said. "The awards for the Glendale train derailment are the fastest I've seen."

The Police Medal is given to recognize an officer's exceptional judgment or tactics in a stressful situation. The Professional Esteem Award recognizes judgment in a non-life-threatening situation.

Communications supervisor {and BCEA member} Michelle McCord received the Professional Esteem Award for her handling of a 911 call in January from Michael Beauregard, who was later charged with stabbing and killing his mother, Cora Beauregard.

Officer Jeffrey Barcus received the police medal for chasing and catching a burglary suspect in December, 2004. While wrestling with the man, Barcus removed a loaded gun from the man's hands.

Sgt. Tom Kister received the Police medal for talking a man out of committing suicide January 22, 2005 as the man sat on a sign ledge above the Golden State (5) Freeway.

Sgt. Kevin Grandalski received the Professional Esteem Award and Officers Chris Canales and Fernando Munoz received the Police Medal for their judgment in a September 2002 incident in which they shot Carl Strunk after he pointed a handgun at them.

Strunk was later sentenced to life in prison for the attempted murder of a police officer.

Det. Brent Dyrness received the Professional Esteem Award for his help in the 1991 prosecution case of murder victim Lori Nieri.