L to R -- El Cajon Fire Chief Mike Scott, Fire Captain Doug Elliott, Officer Mike Doyle and Police Chief Clifford Diamond. Photo by Monica Zech.

At a special ceremony held Thursday evening at the Masonic Lodge in El Cajon, the El Cajon Masonic Lodge announced their choices for the El Cajon Police Officer and Firefighter of the Year awards. Receiving special recognition, El Cajon Fire Captain Doug Elliott and El Cajon Police Officer Mike Doyle.

In recognizing Captain Elliott: Captain Elliott has served with the El Cajon Fire Department for 23 years. Captain Elliott has contributed to the fire department in many ways. He is a positive role model for our new employees, provides specialized training in the areas of vehicle extrication and wildland firefighting. His enthusiasm for the job is evident every day that he is at work. Beyond his duties as an employee, Doug has also been involved as a volunteer for the San Diego Burn Institute, giving them thousands of hours of his own time to support Boot Drives, Burn Run Expo, Burn Camps and Firefighters Night with the Padres. His efforts to coordinate these events have raised several thousand dollars for this important cause. He also has been involved as wildland firefighting instructor for a youth detention program and has been a mentor and role model for these youths. El Cajon Fire Chief Mike Scott was on hand for the special honors.

In honoring Mike Doyle: Officer Doyle is credited with numerous felony arrests and stolen vehicles recoveries, and has been involved in the arrest of a significant number of criminals that are repeat offenders and parolees. Officer Doyle has made 122 felony arrests, 166 arrest total which were: 45 felony narcotics offenses, 21 auto thefts, 5 burglaries, 5 forgeries, 4 I.D. thefts, 22 parolees at large, 2 felony spousal abuses, 1 robbery, 9 felony weapons charges, 6 possession of stolen property, 1 grand theft, and 2 felony hit and runs. Hardly a shift goes by without an Officer Doyle related arrest. Mike’s reputation as a tenacious officer who somehow always finds the bad guy is well earned. Police Chief Clifford Diamond was also on hand for the special presentation. Congratulations to Captain Elliott and Officer Doyle!

Both Chief Scott and Chief Diamond expressed their thanks for these special honors bestowed by the Masonic group in El Cajon. The Masonic Lodge is located at 695 Ballantyne Avenue.