CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday new members of the Clearlake Police Department were introduced to the Clearlake City Council and current officers were commended for their services to the community.

Lt. Tim Celli made the presentations at the start of the council's regular meeting as several members of the department – including K9 Officer Harley – looked on.

Celli began by introducing the agency's two newest officers – Leonardo Flores, who came from the Fresno area and started his job in late May, and Matt Huot from Rohnert Park, who started on June 8.

Then it was time to award commendations to three of the department's officers and a K9.

First up was Det. Ryan Peterson, who has become known for his considerable abilities in solving difficult cases.

However, it wasn't Peterson's work for crime solving that was honored this time – but his ability for problem solving.

Peterson met and interviewed at the Lake County Jail a female inmate who was battling drug addiction, Celli said.

After the woman was released from jail several months early for good behavior, she needed assistance in getting into a rehabilitation program. “She wanted to change her life,” Celli said.

Because of her early release, a space wasn't available for her. She also didn't have any friends locally. So in May she reached out to Peterson, who she remembered from the interview, Celli said.

Peterson went to work, contacting several agencies before finding a rehab program that would take her. He then worked with a local pastor to secure a ride for her to the facility, set up overnight accommodations for her and even contributed monetarily to the effort to get her help, Celli said.

Celli called Peterson's efforts to help someone he barely knew but who came to him for help when she had nowhere else to turn “above and beyond” and “outstanding.”

“I just think it's awesome that those folks know they can count on law enforcement,” Celli said.

He added that he thought it was great that the woman was willing to reach out to law enforcement for help.

Next, Celli paid tribute to officers Trevor Franklin and Mike Ray, and Ray's K9 partner, Harley.

Franklin, Ray and Harley were part of a successful April 8 search for a missing Clearlake girl, whose life they saved, Celli said.

On that evening, Franklin received a report that an 11-year-old girl had left her home hours earlier, according to Celli.

That night, shortly before 9 p.m., Felicia Vance went to the Clearlake Police Department to report that her daughter, CeNedra, had walked away from her friend's house on 32nd Avenue about four and a half hours earlier, with family searching unsuccessfully for her, as Lake County News has reported.

Celli said Franklin immediately began following up on the case, developing information about a plausible location while also sorting through information that turned out not to be relevant to the case.

The leads Franklin developed eventually led him to a home on Second Street, which is on the other side of town, where a resident admitted to seeing the girl that night.

Franklin determined that the search needed to focus on that area, and he coordinated with Ray to assist in the search. Celli said they found a clue – a single shoe print – that to them further confirmed that the girl had been in that area.

They began to check an adjacent wooded area. Harley led them to a path and alerted to an overturned, abandoned boat, Celli said.

It was around 11 p.m. that the officers found the girl under the boat. Celli said she was unresponsive and apparently suffering from hypothermia.

After checking the girl's vital signs and realizing the severity of the situation, Franklin scooped the child up in his arms and carried her out to an area where he rendered first aid and waited for medical personnel, according to Celli.

Celli said the girl later was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake and treated before being returned to her family.

“Outstanding job,” he said before handing Franklin his commendation.

Likewise, Ray and Harley received a commendation for their efforts.

Celli explained that once the officers found the girl's shoe print, Ray decided to have Harley try to track the child.

“Harley, being an apprehension K9, would not generally be used in a search and rescue operation,” said Celli. However Ray thought it would be beneficial. “This was a decision that would pay off with lifesaving results.”

Shortly after starting the track, Harley led them through the wooded area to the boat and alerted, Celli said.

“Had it not been for your outstanding teamwork with both Officer Franklin and your K9 partner, this situation would have surely ended in tragedy,” said Celli, before handing Ray the commendation for he and his K9 partner.

“Way to go, Harley,” someone called from the audience.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.