Liset Marquez, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin

For the second year in a row the Ontario Police Officers Association held its Widows and Orphans fundraiser in connection with Law Enforcement Night with the Ontario Reign.

The game, held on Jan. 13, is also the second year that the Reign and Citizens Business Bank Arena have held a night recognizing those in law enforcement, said Lou Mena, president of Ontario Police Officers Association.

The $2,500 raised, from sales of tickets sold by the association, go toward the Widows and Orphans fund, Mena said.

"We are able to financially help families of officers that have been injured or killed in the line of duty," he said.

The association send their money to funds through out the state, either directly to the family or to memorial funds.

Last year, after the association raised money at the Reign game, they donated their proceeds to the families of the four officers killed in Oakland, he said.

At the game, the association also gave its Police Officer of the Year award to Michael Gonzales.

Traditionally, the award was given during a Christmas ceremony but was changed to give the public a chance to see the work done by Ontario Police officers, Mena said.

Gonzales, who has been with the department for two years, was one of the first officers to respond to the stabbing incident at Dave and Buster's last year.

Gonzales not only attended to the little girl who was stabbed, but he later developed a friendship with her and her family.

"What Mike did is an act of kindness," Mena said.

Gonzales, thej father of two, said he got involved with law enforcement to take the evil guys off the street.

When the 27-year-old learned he was named Officer of the Year, he said "I was shocked because I didn't feel I did anything special. I just wanted to help the family."

liset.marquez@inlandnewspapers.com

909-483-8556