Whether she’s helping children at a holiday charity drive, or pulling a wounded victim out of harm’s way after a shooting, Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Heidi Stoecklein lives up to the department’s motto, “To Protect and To Serve.”

Los Angeles Police Department senior lead officer Heidi Stoecklein receives the State Officer of the Year Award from American Legion Department of California commander Ken Kramlich. (photo courtesy of Eric Rose)

Stoecklein’s service was recognized on June 28 at the American Legion Department of California’s State Convention in Palm Springs, where she received the State Officer of the Year Award. The officer served at the LAPD’s Wilshire and Olympic divisions from 2007 through 2013, and was reassigned a month and a half ago to work in the department’s Office of Operations. Stoecklein said she was grateful and humbled to receive the award, which honors an officer who goes beyond the call of duty, exemplifies the virtues of professionalism and demonstrates a commitment to community service.

She has twice received the LAPD’s Police Star — the LAPD’s third highest honor — which is awarded to officers who perform with exceptional judgment, or use skillful tactics to defuse dangerous situations. She was also recognized for volunteering with multiple charities, and for organizing the Olympic Division’s Operation Shoes From Santa program, in which shoes are distributed to needy children during the holidays.

“She is an outstanding officer,” said Ed Alvarez, the law and order chairman for the America Legion’s Department of California. “This officer goes well above what is expected of her. For her to give that amount of time to help other people says a lot about her.”

Stoecklein grew up in Orange County, and currently resides near Laguna Beach. She said she developed a respect for law enforcement at a young age, and became the first person in her family to pursue a career in the field. As a teen, she joined the Explorer Program for the Newport Beach Police Department, and later became a cadet with the Huntington Beach Police Department.

She joined the LAPD in 2002, and first served with the West Traffic Division before being assigned to the Wilshire Division in 2007, and later the Olympic Division in 2009. Prior to her reassignment to the department’s Office of Operations, she served as a senior lead officer in Koreatown and the Wilshire Park area.

“I love the diversity of the city, and the opportunity to serve in so many jobs and assignments,” Stoecklein said. “It certainly has been very adventurous and rewarding. Being able to work with the community and reduce crime has been great.”

One of the factors that led to the statewide recognition was Stoecklein’s job performance in the two incidents for which she received the Police Star. The first occurred in 2009, when Stoecklein and her partner responded to a call of a shooting in the Country Club Park area. The officers helped coordinate the police deployment at the scene, where a suspect with a rifle had shot a man in the head and barricaded himself inside a residence. Stoecklein helped drag the shooting victim out of the range of gunfire, and the S.W.A.T. Team eventually arrested the gunman. She said unfortunately, the victim later died.

“The training kicked in,” she said. “This is what officers do on a daily basis.”

Stoecklein received the Police Star for the second time in May for her work following a shooting at an office building in the 3400 block of Wilshire Blvd. last November. A disgruntled employee allegedly entered an office in the building and shot and killed his former boss. Stoecklein said when she and other senior lead officers and a sergeant first arrived, people were fleeing the building in a panic. The officers made their way to the location of the shooting and confronted the suspect, who surrendered without any further violence.

“When we entered the hallway, you could smell the gun smoke, and we knew something bad was going on,” Stoecklein added. “We went in as a team, and fortunately arrested the suspect. Once again, our training kicked in.”

Stoecklein stressed that it was a team effort, which is the case with most police work. That shared responsibility carries over into her community service, particularly Operations Shoes for Santa. During the inaugural event last year, more than 600 pairs of shoes were collected and distributed by officers from the Olympic Division.

“It was an absolute joy to see [the children’s] faces, and to be a part of it,” she said.

Stoecklein also volunteers with the A Chance for Children Foundation, which provides mentoring for children living in inner-city neighborhoods; the Best Day Foundation, which helps children with special needs build confidence and self-esteem; and the Hispanic American Commanding Officers Association, which assists youths with scholarships. Additionally, she has participated in the Olympic Division torch run relay for the Special Olympics, and spearheaded a fundraising campaign for a fellow officer whose child suffered from a rare cancer. As the recipient of the State Officer of the Year Award, Stoecklein becomes the American Legion Department of California’s nominee for the National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award in 2014.

“To be recognized by the American Legion, which is committed to supporting the law enforcement, veterans and their service, I am just in awe,” she added. “This whole experience has been wonderful.”