Sergeant Henry Valenzuela given award after YPD awards controversy
Sergeant Henry Valenzuela was awarded the Sworn Supervisor Award Wednesday during an in-house ceremony.
Sgt. Valenzuela reacted to the award in a statement to News 11:
“Individual awards are strange because nobody does anything alone. The detectives I supervise deserve the credit for the incredible accomplishments our unit achieved over the last year. My Sergeant peers have backed me up and covered for me when I was needed elsewhere. The accomplishments we made with the employee pay plans could not have been achieved without the team of dedicated YPD and City of Yuma employees who contributed to the process. My supervisors have mentored me, kept me on track, and helped me when I have fallen short. I would not be where I am today without my family, friends, and Yuma community who has supported me every step of the way. I accept this award on behalf of my family, my friends, all the YPD sworn officers and civilian support staff, and the Yuma community who has shown so much support for me and my fellow officers.”
The award was not originally awarded to Sgt. Valenzuela after former City Administrator Greg Wilkinson admitted not allowing the Sergeant to receive the award.
Valenzuela, also known as the “Guy with a Calculator,” sparked controversy when he questioned city finances.
Former Chief John Lekan explained the situation during the April 17 city council meeting.
Lekan said he called former City Administrator Greg Wilkinson to tell him Sergeant Henry Valenzuela was nominated for Sworn Officer of the Year.
“The city administrator’s immediate reaction and the response was a firm, definite and unequivocal no, implying that Sgt. Valenzuela would not be receiving the award,” Lekan said during Wednesday’s call to the public. “The City Administrator added in his response the phrase, ‘No one will survive this.’ Which I took to mean the jobs of anyone with authority and approving an award for Sgt. Valenzuela may be in jeopardy,” explained Former Chief Lekan .
Lekan added that Wilkinson threatened the pay plans that city council approved in December if Valenzuela was given the award.
Wilkinson denied that allegation to News 11.
