Serving country and community

Some residents of Morgan Hill might not know that many of the city’s police officers are veterans of various branches of the military who have served over a dozen combined overseas deployments.

Veterans Day, held Nov. 11, is a federal holiday observed in honor of all veterans who have served in the US armed forces. Ten of the  Morgan Hill Police Department’s nearly 40 officers have served in the military from 1961 to 2012, according to a list compiled by MHPD Sgt. Bill Norman, himself a veteran of the Marine Corps.

Below is a list of MHPD officers who have served in the military, with brief descriptions of their service to both their country and their local community.

Capt. Emil Kokesh

Served in the US Army from 1988 to 1991. Kokesh served in the Army’s 1^st Infantry Division as an infantryman deployed to Germany. Kokesh began his law enforcement career with the San Bernardino Police Department in 1992, and joined MHPD in 2018. At MHPD, Kokesh is in command of the Special Operations Division.

Sgt. Bill Norman

Norman served with the US Marine Corps from 1989 to 1993, in the 2^nd Battalion 3^rd Marine Division as a scout/sniper. He served in Iraq in support of Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Norman began his police career with Redwood City PD in 1995, and joined MHPD in 2005. Norman is the local department’s Special Operations supervisor and MHPD’s public information officer.

Officer Ryan Warren

Warren served in the US Army, 2^nd Battalion 504^th Parachute Infantry Unit, from 2003 to 2008. He was deployed twice to Iraq during Operation Enduring Freedom. He joined San Jose Police Department in 2009, and was hired by MHPD in 2011. Warren is currently assigned to the MHPD patrol division as a field training officer.

Det. Kathleen Price

Price served in the US Marine Corps from 2004 to 2009, before joining MHPD in 2011. While in the Marines, Price served with the corps’ Air Wing Logistics Squadron 39, and was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Officer Fidel Rios

Rios served in the U.S. Army, 977^th Military Police Company, from 2001 to 2010. He was deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Rios has been a police officer at MHPD since 2012, and is currently assigned to the patrol division as a field training officer.

Det. Todd Davis

Davis was in the US Army from 1998 to 2012, and served in the 82^nd Airborne Division. He was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom, and to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Currently assigned to special operations, Davis has been an MHPD officer since 2013.

Officer Samuel Huezo

Huezo served in the US Army from 2008 to 2012, in the 3^rd Infantry Division. He was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Huezo began his law enforcement career at Salinas Police Department, and joined MHPD in 2018.

Officer Eddy Gutierrez

Gutierrez was in the US Marine Corps from 2006 to 2011, serving with the 1^st Marine Division Security Forces. He was deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Gutierrez began his police career at Oakland PD. He joined MHPD earlier this year, and is assigned to the patrol division.

Evidence Technician Josh Grant

Grant served in the Marine Corps from 1993 to 1997, with the 2^nd Battalion 1^st Marine Division. He was deployed overseas twice, to the Southwest Asian theater. Grant began his law enforcement career with California State Parks in 2004, and joined MHPD in 2014. He is currently assigned to support services, and is responsible for evidence and property at MHPD.

Crime Scene Investigator Bruce Dudley

Dudley served in the US Coast Guard from 1961 to 1965, as an electrician’s mate in the Construction and Repair Divisions. He served at Base Alameda. Dudley served 30 years as a police officer with Sunnyvale PD. He has been a part-time crime scene investigator for MHPD since 2006. Dudley is assigned to local special operations, and is a crime scene photographer.