Officer Juan Vea of the Escondido Police Dept. received the Scottish Rite Officer of the Year Award. The following is what EPD Chief Ken Plunkett submitted when he nominated Officer Vea for the award: “Officer Jesus Vea has been a steady, dependable presence since joining the Escondido Police Department on December 2, 2019. The chief added, “Back in Patrol, Officer Vea continues to be the person who shows up—often literally everywhere—regularly working overtime to help maintain minimum staffing and support his team. His work ethic, leadership, and consistent performance make him highly deserving of recognition as the 2025 Escondido Police Department Scottish Rite Officer of the Year.”