TRACY, Calif. –
Firefighter/Engineer Joseph Guerrero and Police Sgt. Ken-Ken DeVera from Defense Logistics Agency Installation Management San Joaquin, California, were recognized as San Joaquin County’s 2022 Firefighter and Police Officer of the Year during a community recognition dinner hosted by the Tracy American Legion Post 172, March 26. Guerrero will now compete for Regional Firefighter of the Year honors.
“Firefighter/Engineer Joseph Guerrero and Police Sgt. Ken-Ken DeVera are both true professionals in the areas of their expertise,” said DLA Installation Management San Joaquin Site Director, Jonathan Mathews. “They are high performing and valuable assets to our Police and Fire Departments here at DLA Installation Management San Joaquin.”
Guerrero is an Air Force veteran who honorably served 20 years on active duty and reserve, deploying numerous times as a firefighter. He joined the DLA Fire Department in 2003.
“Firefighter Guerrero’s successes are testament to the hard work and energy that Joseph demonstrates on a daily basis and every endeavor he undertakes,” said DLA Installation Management San Joaquin Fire Chief John Stephens. “It is for this reason Joseph is deserving of recognition.”
Guerrero was involved with the installation’s COVID-19 vaccination event, vaccinating over 1,000 employees. Utilizing his personal connections with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he procured copies of FEMA’s incident action plans utilized at their vaccination event and modified them for the installation event. Further, he served as a pre-screener during the multi-day event. His diligence and coordination ensured that employees were properly pre-screened.
He is an active member in the community as a certified California Disaster Healthcare Volunteer, aiding with the roll out of California’s wide-scale COVID-19 vaccination drive in addition to volunteering with the City of Tracy at the vaccination events.
Additionally, Guerrero currently divides his off time as a coach for an over high school age baseball team and as a volunteer with the United Way of San Joaquin.
Officer DeVera served in the Army and Army Reserve for over 8 years. Upon completing her military time, she attended college and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Management. She joined the DLA team in 2017 as a warehouse worker and joined the DLA Police Department in 2018.
DeVera is a police officer who leads by example. She is always looking to improve herself and take on more responsibility. She volunteered to be a Field Training Officer to train new DLA police officers. Under her leadership, she has trained veteran officers undergoing leadership and policy-based training in addition to providing input to improve the program.
In her off-time, she gives back to her community. Once a month she prepares meals for over 40 homeless individuals and volunteers at the Stockton Blind Center assisting blind individuals with grocery shopping and helping them clean their homes.
“Police Sgt. DeVera is a model example of what a professional police officer should be by being of service to country, her community and her family,” said Assistant Police Chief Daniel Harrison with DLA Installation Management San Joaquin.