Earlier this week, the Woodland Police Department welcomed aboard three new employees while also celebrating stupendous achievements among the department with the awarding of the Chief’s Leadership Award, two Life Saving Awards, and a group award receiving commendation memorandums.

Before recognition was awarded, the WPD swore in Records Specialist Hillary Hendrix, Officer Antonio Ramos and Community Service Officer Joshua Blanton into the department.

Woodland City Clerk Sarah Lansburgh administered the oath of office before each one of the department’s newest employees had a special person in their life come up to ceremonially pin the badge on them.

Ramos elected to have his father pin his badge, Hendrix had her son pin hers and Blanton had his wife pin his badge.

“When people are getting their badges and getting sworn in, it’s a huge step,” said WPD Chief Ryan Kinnan. “I’ve mentioned this a few times, but less than a quarter percent of our population does the work that the men and women from the WPD do. We put on the badge to serve our communities when things are going well and when things are challenging. Over the last several years, our profession has faced a number of challenges, but it doesn’t matter what they are. The staff here step up every day and give you 110%, so we should be super fortunate for the men and women we have.”

Blanton was born and raised in Woodland and is the eldest of five siblings. He was a part of Scouting throughout his childhood, taking part in numerous camping trips and service projects. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout shortly before his graduation from Pioneer High School in 2016.While attending Woodland Community College, he worked for both Orchard Supply Hardware and GameStop.

Blanton moved in 2020 to attend Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He spent his Fall 2022 semester in Japan, exploring numerous landmarks and cultural sites, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in educational studies and a minor in international and global studies in May of 2023.

He began working for the Town of Clover’s Parks and Recreation Department in September the same year.

Blanton returned home to Woodland in August of 2024. Some of his favorite pastimes include strength training, digital video/image editing, and studying Japanese.

He is looking forward to supporting the community on behalf of the WPD and the city of Woodland.

Hendrix is a lifelong resident of Dixon with deep ties to her community. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Azusa Pacific University, a path that shaped both her professional and personal outlook. In addition to her academic achievements, Hendrix worked for her family’s agriculture business, where she gained hands-on experience in operations and management.

She also briefly served as an emergency dispatcher for a neighboring agency, which gave her valuable insight into high-pressure situations and the importance of helping others in moments of need.

Hendrix’s passion for community and teaching is evident in her ongoing work as a substitute teacher, a role that allows her to make a positive impact on local students.

Outside of her professional commitments, she is a dedicated mother to her 14-year-old son and enjoys spending time with her two lively Goldendoodles. Hendrix loves attending her son’s football games and supporting his sporting pursuits.

Travel is another of her passions, and she enjoys exploring new destinations whenever possible.

Now, Hendrix is thrilled to be working for the WPD. She is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the department’s mission and is eager to learn and grow within the team.

Ramos was raised in Woodland and graduated from Woodland High School in 2019. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Sacramento State in 2023.

After completing his degree, Ramos attended the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Academy as a recruit for the Woodland Police Department in August 2024.

He likes to ride motorcycles and has a passion for cars; he enjoys working on them and learning about all kinds of vehicles.

Ramos is excited about the opportunity given to him by the Woodland Police Department. He looks forward to helping people and giving back to the community that he was raised in. He looks forward to learning from everyone at the department and hopes to have a long and prosperous career.

Following the ceremony, the award recipients included:

Chief’s Leadership Award:

Ofc. Zachary Ryno

Commendation Incident Memorandum:

Officer Wayne Terry

Officer Omar Flores

Officer Carlos Barrera

Detective Ruben Esquibel

Cpl. Mark Gojkovich

Sr. Detective Lilian Smith

Life Saving Awards

Officer Kayla Schweitzer

Officer Ryan Royval