The Cypress Police Foundation offers several different ways to contribute that allow individuals or corporations to partner with us to help keep Cypress a safe place to live, work and visit. All contributions are tax deductible and recognizing those who are instrumental in helping the Cypress Police Department protect and serve the Cypress business and residential community more effectively.
Please download the brochure to read about the Cypress Police Foundation and fill out the Donor Form with your level of contribution. Every donation amount is appreciated.
Wayne Schoemann began a lifelong commitment to community service when he enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. For the past twenty years, he has selflessly helped others by delivering meals to seniors, veterans, and their families. He is especially called to help veterans, and volunteers at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Hospital.
On October 1, 2017, Officer Thomas Mellana was attending the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival with his wife and several friends in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire on the crowd of over 22,000. Ultimately, 58 people were killed and 851 injured, making this the deadliest mass shooting in United States history.
On January 4, 2018, at 5:27 p.m., Cypress officers were dispatched to a residential structure fire with a female victim trapped inside the home. Upon arrival, officers found the residence was fully engulfed with flames and black smoke billowing from doors and windows. Orange County Fire Authority had not yet arrived on scene. Two officers punched the lock of a security screen and entered the residence in an effort to locate the female victim. However, they quickly found the fire and smoke too intense to continue their search. Meanwhile, Officer Godoy heard someone yelling for help from the rear of the home. Without hesitation, Officer Godoy immediately traversed a six-foot high wall, entered the rear yard, and located the unresponsive victim on the ground. Using his military training and experience as a Navy Corpsman, Officer Godoy assessed the victim and observed she had first and second degree burns, was suffering from smoke inhalation, and was fading in and out of consciousness. Several officers attempted to reach Officer Godoy through a walkway filled with smoke and flames when a large window above Officer Godoy exploded causing hot glass and debris to fall on him and the victim. Realizing the circumstances were rapidly evolving into a life-threatening situation, Officer Godoy evacuated the victim by carrying her a distance of nearly 100 yards.
After a stint in Missouri state government as the Director of the Missouri Council on Criminal Justice, Jay Sondhi moved his family to Cypress over 30 years ago to pursue a law career in the private sector.
The Cypress Volunteers in Policing (V.I.P.) are a team of trained citizen volunteers who assist the Police Department with non-enforcement duties, which enables officers to focus on crime reduction. Volunteers are an important part of this organization and are proven to be a valuable asset to law enforcement agencies.
Diana Martinez began her career with the Cypress Police Department as Police Aide in January 2015. Her superb customer service skills, professionalism, and mentorship of new Police Aides led to her promotion
Matthew Charland was hired as a Cypress Police Officer in July 2011. He previously served for eight years as a United States Marine Corps Reservist, completing various assignments that included a five-month deployment to Iraq. He was also a 3-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department, and a graduate of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Academy.