Sierra Vista, Arizona (KGUN) — The Sierra Vista Police Department honors Officer Antonio Chavez with Police Officer of the Year and Top Cochise County Police Officer honors.

He believes he is committed to keeping his community safe and helping those he comes into contact with.

“Everyone is important and to everyone I come in contact with, I want to make sure you’re okay. At the end of the day, I’m here to protect and help others.” he said.

Officer Chavez’s dedication is all about mitigating risk.

“I don’t like people being put in danger,” he told KGUN 9.

After graduating from Bisbee High School, Constable Chavez left his home state to pursue his pole vaulting dreams in college, but along the way he discovered that his mission was to serve his community.

This officer is in his third year with the Sierra Vista Police Department (SVPD). In his first year of on-the-job training, he responded to his 978 traffic stops, 60 DUI arrests, and 756 service requests.

“I like to keep criminals off the road,” said Chavez. “The border is right there and a lot of crime goes through it. And I don’t like disabled drivers. Because people’s lives are at stake.”

One of the most memorable calls he answered involved a “junior high school student” who had a lot going on and needed someone to talk to. Mr. Chavez picked her up at her home and took her to her school, which put her at ease.

“I sat down and had breakfast with her at school and made sure she was fine,” Chavez said. I made her time for her and made sure she was okay with her school. “

Outside of work, I volunteer as a coach for Bisbee High School’s wrestling and track teams. For his contributions to the community and the department, he earned his SVPD’s title of his 2022 Officer of the Year and Cochise County Top Cop.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I could win with just this. I’m very new, but when I won, I was surprised and shocked.”

Mr. Chavez doesn’t mind the two awards. He wants to be a better officer and leader in the future.

“My goal is to keep doing what I’m doing and get better, but I don’t want to stop working hard,” he said. That’s something I don’t want to do. “