The UC Davis Police Department last week recognized students, a custodian and a security supervisor for campus safety efforts revolving around heat and ice and fire and lights.

The department also honored many of its own people, including officers, dispatchers, records clerks and the technology team.

"I want to thank the folks here who every day make the university a safe place," Student Affairs Vice Chancellor Fred Wood told the audience at the Police Department's 15th annual Citizen and Employee Appreciation Ceremony. The luncheon event took place Jan. 25 in a ballroom at the Activities and Recreation Center.

One of the citizen awards went to Alpha Phi Omega, a community service fraternity with chapters all across the nation. UC Davis' Iota Phi Chapter comprises more than 300 students, male and female. The award recognized the fraternity for its participation in a lighting safety walk one night last October.

More than 30 students came out to help; they provided the bulk of the manpower and womenpower, and their sheer number made it possible for the organizers to assign teams to every part of the main campus, including the Health Sciences District.

The teams spotted more than 200 burned out or broken lights, and areas where branches and other vegetation blocked the lighting. "We had a pretty big pair of eyes," said Melissa Siaotong, service vice president for Alpha Phi Omega, who represented the fraternity at the appreciation ceremony.

Police Chief Annette Spicuzza reported that Operations & Maintenance had already attended to all but a handful of the lighting problems.

Siaotong, a fourth year student majoring in human development, said she was pleased that Alpha Phi Omega could help make the campus a safer place. "Our work could potentially save a life," she said.

Lifesaving effort best describes what Marc Hicks did to earn a citizen award. He was working at the brand-new Aggie Stadium for the football team's inaugural home game, Sept. 1, when the temperature in the stands neared 100 degrees.

As stadium security supervisor, working for an outside contractor, Hicks kept in close communication with UC Davis police and fire officials, and when fans started reeling from the heat, Hicks jumped into action.

"It was go time," said Hicks, whose regular job is school community liaison for the Davis Joint Unified School District. "I knew what needed to be done."

Among those tasks was going to the nearest supermarket, at Covell Boulevard and Anderson Road, and buying every sack of ice in the store, with his own money. "I cleaned them out, 73 bags," Hicks said.

And, though he is not a police officer, he made it to the store in a hurry in a city of Davis police car, after calling a friend of his on the force and saying he needed help.

"This is my community," Hicks said. "That's what you're supposed to do — help out."

UC Davis custodian Dennis Kisamore received a citizen award for his vigilance one night in early October, when he saw two people acting strangely and lurking around a campus bus stop. Later, he learned that a phone booth had been set on fire, and he reported about the people he had seen earlier.

"Mr. Kisa-more took the time to observe the incident and provide the Police Department with information that ultimately led to the prosecution of the two suspects," Capt. Joyce Souza told the audience at the appreciation ceremony.

Department awards included the following:

Employee of the year — Bob Lieske, evidence and property technician. A co-worker commented that Lieske "has worked hard to turn the former evidence area into the neat, well-oiled machine it is today."

Dispatcher of the year — Tracey Peterson, honored for "enhancing the efficiency" of the communications unit.

She updated the emergency contacts list for the Police Department's Davis campus and Sacramento campus units; reorganized and updated the dispatch center resource binders; and worked with Yolo County Superior Court and its Traffic Division to recall outdated warrants, reducing the warrant file from 400 to 58.

"Truly it is Tracy's work behind the scenes that demonstrates her dedication to the public safety profession," Souza said.

Officer of the year — Moaz Ahmad, who in two years as a member of the UC Davis Police Department has earned a reputation among his colleagues as an officer with a "can-do" attitude. "Moaz's outstanding work ethic, consistent effort, excellent officer safety skills and aggressive, self-initiated enforcement activities have reflected positively on the Police Department," Souza said.

From March through September last year, Ahmad made 20 arrests for alleged drunken driving on and around the Davis campus; he has been nominated for an award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Also, he has given presentations to the campus community regarding the effects of using alcohol and drugs.

All of this year's Police Department awards are due to be listed on the department's Web site: police.ucdavis.edu.