Julius Muniz was almost late to an event at Great Wolf Resort Thursday honoring him for his service with the California Highway Patrol.

That’s because he was doing his job working a major accident involving a semi-truck that shut down the eastbound 120 Bypass between Union Road and Main Street for much of the morning.

Muniz was one of five law enforcement professionals the Manteca Rotary honored on Law Day that work to protect and serve Manteca and other nearby communities.

The stories of why they were selected won’t inspire a Hollywood blockbuster featuring an A-list Hollywood actor or be the subject of a major crime documentary on Netflix.

But they do reflect the daunting challenges the men and women of law enforcement handle day in and day out to protect the public and work to maintain law and order.

Muniz is a solid example.

The Sierra High graduate served with the Army in Afghanistan for six years before entering the CHP Academy in 2019. His first assignment was in Hayward and then the Stockton office in 2022.

His professional, dedicated, and committed approach to law enforcement led to him being appointed as a field training officer in July 2025.

Add to that a calm and patience demeanor that allowed him in the past year to talk down a jumper from a freeway overcrossing.

Roni Hafed is another example of the solid effort of peace officers.

Hafed started with Manteca Police as an Explorer in 2017.

In December of 2020, he became a reserve police officer and a booking officer.

He became a full-time police officer in August of 2023.

His proactive law enforcement effort and his ability to develop strong cases in the past year allowed Hafed to make 113 arrests, handle 1,330 calls, 210 reports, 614 traffic stops, and 252 contains.

He serves as a K9 training officer and is one of the reasons the department’s unmanned aerial surveillance effort has helped MPD for effectively deal with crime.

Tabitha Heraty is an effective representative of the real unsung heroes of law enforcement; probation officers.

The San Joaquin County Department Probation Department officer was lauded for “never backing away from a challenge” and “never hesitating to jump in and help.”

Those qualities go a long way in the understaffed ranks of probation departments.

She is credited with effectively stepping up the county’s probation pre-trial assessment unit while serving other assignments such as Proposition 53 enforcement of parolees with firearms.

Heraty plays a key role in carrying out court orders and managing the county jail population.

San Joaquin County District Attorney investigator Jose Nuno started his law enforcement career as a Stockton Unified School District police officer in 1989.

In 1996, he started a 22-year career with Lodi Police before becoming a DA investigator in 2019.

His “unwavering and continuous dedication” has led to 100 arrests from 200 investigations, recovering 173 stolen vehicles, and helping take millions of dollars of illegal drugs off the street.

Nuno, just like his peers, is quick to point out law enforcement is not a one-man show.

“We all wear different badges, but we all work together,” Nuno told Thursday’s gathering of 140 at the Great Wolf conference center.

He also stressed leadership matters, praising current District Attorney Ron Freitas for making department changes that have allowed for the successful investigation and prosecution of a number of cold cases and success stories that freed many adult and youth human trafficking victims and led to prosecutions.

San Joaquin County Sheriff Deputy Nick Goucher was recognized for his efforts with a high tech task force dealing with child abuse cases.

His efforts have led to the arrest of abusers of young children that required the ability to find and unlock electronic devices and scour the Internet in addition to solid, old-fashioned police investigation tactics.

Goucher also emphasized the importance of law enforcement working together.

“It doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” Goucher said of obtaining justice for victims and maintaining law and order.

There were 111 officers nationwide that died in the line of duty during 2025, based on FBI statistics.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com