Former Marine Named San Diego County 'Officer of the Year'

Matt Lyons, a former Camp Pendleton Marine, and current officer in the Oceanside Police Department, was recently honored with the San Diego County "Officer of the Year" award. 

The award was presented to Lyons on July 24 at the Law Enforcement Recognition Awards Dinner hosted by Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.

According to U-T San Diego, Lyons was honored for his proactive approach to fighting crime in Oceanside's Crown Heights, which included "walking through the neighborhoods making contact with longtime gang members who were intimidating residents."

Lyons is a 13-year veteran of the Oceanside police department, and received their "2012 Officer of the Year" earlier this year. Prior to joining the police department, he served in the Marine Corps for 22 years. 

When he retired in 2000, he was the Camp Pendleton base’s chief of criminal investigations, according to U-T San Diego. 

Lyons was selected out 16 other nominees in the county. It is the first time an Oceanside officer was won the award since 1993, according to the newspaper.