A bar of flashing lights atop a squad car in the rear-view mirror usually is not a welcome sight, but when people are hurt, afraid or in danger, they want the police.

Denton officers know they can’t always count on warm feelings from the public. But they can count on the SOS (Support Our Shields) 100 Club of Denton when they need help themselves, and they know that once a year, at least, they will be recognized for their work.

That time came Thursday night with the club’s annual police awards dinner.

The organization is made up of volunteers who work to obtain money for a fund used to help officers injured in the line of duty and families in case their loved one is killed in the line of duty.

The organization also honors officers and civilians in the department with special awards for those deemed the best of the best by their peers.

The following officers and civilians were honorees for 2010:

Ronny Crain

• Patrol Officer of the Year — Ronny Crain, a 12-year veteran of the department, was recognized because of his natural leadership and his work in the field that has led to the clearing of several cases, according to his nomination.

He served in the Army and was a Wichita Falls officer before joining Denton’s department. He has served as a patrol officer, in the investigations bureau, on the bicycle team, in narcotics and on the Recidivist Apprehension Team. He is a member of the tactical team.

Runners-up for the honor were Officers Matt Harmuth and Cody Clark.

Brandon Rana

• Special Assignment Officer of the Year — Officer Brandon Rana, an 11-year department veteran, served in the Army before becoming a patrol officer in Denton.

He then became the department’s systems administrator and now serves as crime analyst and computer forensic examiner.

He was honored for his work in developing an automated weekly and daily reporting process that provides in-depth analysis of specific crimes in each district. The process allows officers to target known problem areas, according to his nomination.

Special Operations Investigator Danny Fletcher and Officer Sammy Sanchez were runners-up.

Jim Brett

• Supervisor of the Year — Traffic Sgt. Jim Brett, a 20-year member of the department, has served in patrol, as supervisor in the crimes against persons unit of the Criminal Investigations Bureau and as a motorcycle officer.

He supervises the Selective Traffic Enforcement Program and event planning for security at the Denton Arts & Jazz Festival and North by 35 Music Conferette.

Sgt. Brian Blalock was runner-up for the award.

Amanda McIntire

• Communications Officer of the Year — Amanda McIntire has been a dispatcher for nearly 10 years and has served as a training officer for five years.

She has been nominated and recognized by the state several times for handling 911 calls. In 2008, she received the Silent Hero award from the state for the professional way she handled a 911 call.

Patricia Killebrew and Jennifer Sperry were named runners-up.

• Civilian Employee of the Year — Kathy Deitz was named civilian employee of the year.

Deitz is an administrative assistant for the Support Services Division. It is a fairly new position, and Deitz has helped to define the role during her tenure, according to her nomination.

Her previous assignments include criminal investigation clerk and records department clerk. Two of her greatest accomplishments, according to her nomination, were creating the budget ledgers that helped facilitate budget projections and working with the overtime database.

Marisela Herrera and Donna Krouskup were runners-up.

Bonnie Horn

• Volunteer of the Year — Bonnie Horn, mother of Officer Bryan Horn, volunteers one day a week to perform clerical work for the records department.

Runners-up were Brittnay Labus and Judy Patman.

• Records Supervisor Susan Themar and Sgts. Jim Brett and Mike Behrens received “Extra Mile” awards.

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .