For the fifth year in a row, the city of Cleveland and the Division of Police & Fire honored the women who serve within their ranks.
The Salute to Women in Public Safety award was given to women who protect and serve the city every single day. March is Women's History Month.
There are currently 227 female officers within the Cleveland Division of Police and only three female firefighters within the Cleveland Division of Fire.
This year city officials also honored those in the community who work with the police and fire department.
One of the honorees was News 5 reporter Homa Bash, for her work on a story regarding 4-year-old Eliazar Ruiz, whose remains were found behind a home on Longmead Avenue last summer.
For months, the boy's skeleton remained unidentified and stunned the city.
The case featured all female leads -- from Detective Kathleen Carlin to forensic artist Dr. Linda Spurlock, whose sketch of the remains was a key factor in giving the boy his identity back.
Bash was given a Community Service award for her work reporting on the story. The boy's mother saw the sketch on television while incarcerated and recognized her son.
"As a reporter who does a story every single day, you hope and pray that what you do will have an impact. It is so humbling to have a hand in something so important and to be recognized," Bash said.
The boy's death has been ruled a homicide, but no one has yet been charged. Police are continuing their investigation.
