header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 28
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir


Every year, department members who perform acts of great courage and heroism, who go above and beyond the call of duty to save the lives of others while placing their own lives at risk, are honored and recognized at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony.

This year, Sheriff Jim McDonnell honored 51 Department members, 6 private citizens at the event held at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center. In a special segment, four incidents related to the shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 1, 2017 were acknowledged. The astounding stories of off-duty personnel evacuating and carrying countless victims out of the danger zones to safety, loading victims on vehicles for transportation to hospitals, rendering aid to endless gunshot wounds and injuries, all while dodging heavy gunfire themselves. Three private citizens were honored for their efforts in rendering aid to a deputy and Sergeant (married couple) who were shot at the festival.

Special guest and Master of Ceremonies, Jovana Lara, ABC7 Eyewitness News Anchor, spoke of those heroic actions of each award recipient before a large audience. Highly decorated Marine Corps Master Sergeant David Lind (Retired) who survived multiple deployments and a road side bombing in the Middle East captured the essence of the evening, by talking about overcoming heroism, adversity and selfless leadership.

Among the many recipients of awards were deputies from Special Enforcement Bureau who showed great heroism after a two Pomona Police officers were shot. On March 9, 2018 Pomona Police Department officers were in pursuit of a suspect. The suspect drove to an apartment building, ran to his bedroom and shut the door. After PPD officers attempted to force entry in the suspect’s bedroom he opened fire wounding a police officer. In an attempt to rescue the officer another PPD was shot in the face. This series of events led to a standoff with the suspect and the assistance of Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) requested to apprehend the now barricaded suspect.

During the course of the fifteen hour ordeal, almost every tool was exhausted to facilitate the suspect’s surrender. It was learned that the suspect had a violent criminal history and was armed with at least one firearm. Multiple attempts were made to make entry inside the residence. During the last attempt SEB personnel entered the suspect’s bedroom. Explosive devices were placed on opposite sides of the suspect’s bedroom doorway which ultimately created space to see into the bedroom and ultimately make entry. Upon contact with the suspect who violently resisted but was eventually taken into custody. SEB personnel involved in the operation faced extreme danger and the conclusion of the incident is a credit to their professionalism and valiant attitude to compete the mission safely without regard for their own safety and without injury to their partners or the public.

For displaying great bravery and decisiveness during a difficult and deadly situation, and knowingly placing themselves in immediate life-threatening peril, Sergeants Kamal Ahmad, Kevin Brown, and Deputies James Amann, Kenneth Brown, Gregory Davis, Ervin Francois, Kevin Hilgendorf, Stephen Longan, Carlos Lopez and Christopher Smelser were awarded the Medal of Valor.

Other recipients included deputies from Carson station who responded to a house fire on January 18, 2018 and along with fire department personnel rescued the occupants. Upon deputies’ arrival, witnesses told them there were two victims trapped inside the burning residence. The windows of the residence had security bars installed. The deputies immediately ran to the rear of the house and forcefully removed an air conditioner unit from the wall. One deputy jumped in through the opening, but due to heavy black smoke, was forced to back out. Deputies then went around the house and removed the security bars from a window using their expandable batons. At that point fire department personnel arrived and giving not thought to their personal safety entry was made rescuing the occupants.

For their selfless actions and placing themselves in immediate peril, Sergeant Patrick Morey, Deputies Joseph Carlson, Morgan Arteaga, Nedila Estrada, Nicholas Martinez, Kelly Phillips, Jeffrey Uyekawa, Lovell Brown Jr., Melvin Castro, Timothy Cho, Scott Holdsworth, Thomas Leonetti, Jerry Lopez and Alonzo Peoples were awarded the Medal of Meritorious Conduct Gold and Silver Medal.

In 1982, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Valor Awards Program was established to officially and publicly recognize the exceptionally heroic acts performed by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

These awards signify courage, acts of heroism while saving the life of another, traumatic physical injury while performing their job, preservation of human life, personal commitment, and sacrifice to help others. Deputy Sheriffs are called upon to fluidly handle unexpected, challenging and dynamic situations. They do not shy away from uncertainty and work hard to make peace for others, often times at personal risk. Every day, the men and women of the LASD perform their duties in a professional manner. Today, however, this program honors those who extended themselves extraordinarily beyond what was required or asked of them.

Recipients of the 2018 Valor Awards
Special Enforcement Bureau
Sergeant Kamal Ahmad
Sergeant Kevin A. Brown
Deputy James I. Amann
Deputy Kenneth W. Brown
Deputy Gregory B. Davis
Deputy Ervin Francois
Deputy Kevin K. Hilgendorf
Deputy Stephen R. Longan
Deputy Carlos E. Lopez
Deputy Christopher J. Smelser

Pitchess Detention Center-North Facility
Deputy Alesha L. Gonzalez

Operation Safe Streets Bureau
Deputy Patrick A. Hobbs

South Los Angeles Station
Deputy Cesar A. Valiente

Compton Station
Deputy Wanda Y. Valiente
Deputy Miguel A. Garcia Jr
Deputy Edward S. Gonsalves
Deputy Austreberto A. Gonzalez
Deputy Brian H. Reza

Malibu/Lost Hills Station
Reserve Deputy Jack Garden
Reserve Deputy David J. Katz
Reserve Deputy Thad H. Woodward

Lomita Station
Sergeant Gerardo Cedano
Deputy Jonathan R. Kerber

Carson Station
Sergeant Patrick W. Morey
Deputy Joseph R. Carlson
Deputy Morgan E. Arteaga
Deputy Nedila Estrada
Deputy Nicholas G. Martinez
Deputy Kelly J. Phillips
Deputy Jeffrey S. Uyekawa
Deputy Lovell C. Brown Jr.
Deputy Melvin Z. Castro
Deputy Timothy W. Cho
Deputy Scott E. Holdsworth
Deputy Thomas M. Leonetti
Deputy Jerry Lopez
Deputy Alonzo Peoples Jr.

Lakewood Station
Lieutenant Eric E. Castano
Deputy Emily C. Dilelio

Personnel Bureau
Deputy Antonio N. Chavez

Walnut Station
Sergeant Patrick J. Coussa
Deputy William C. Fabian
Deputy Esther E. Kim
Deputy Brandon J. Seung
Deputy Dennis R. Skeels
Reserve Deputy Daniel S. Masanovich

Industry Station
Sergeant Gustavo A. Ramirez

East Los Angeles Station
Deputy Sergio A. Jimenez

Lakewood Station
Deputy Ethan Lizarraga
Deputy William Portillo
Deputy Ryan M. Sauls

Private Citizens
Ms. Gloria Aguirre
Ms. Alicia Hounsley
Ms. Alexandria Pendergrass
Mr. Nicholas Pendergrass
Mr. Derek Valiza
Mr. Mark Williams

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDEC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
The first Music Jam Session at The MAIN was held on Thursday, Feb. 22 and was a hit. Come out and join in for the next one on Thursday, March 28 7 p.m.-9 p.m.
March 28: The MAIN to Host Musicians’ Jam Session
Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman of the Office of Inspector General has issued a report entitled "Tenth Report Back on Implementing Body-Worn Cameras in Los Angeles County."
Office of Inspector General Issues Latest Report on LASD Body Cams
College of the Canyons women's tennis played to a convincing 7-2 conference win over Ventura College on Moica to strengthen its potential playoff resume.
Canyons Closes Out Ventura 7-2 in Final Home Match
Join the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce with the Latino Business Alliance at the Cinco de Mayo Networking Celebration on Tuesday, May 7.
May 7: Latino Business Alliance Cinco de Mayo Celebration
The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control is hosting March Meowness promotion where all cat adoptions are just $15 from now until April 9.
Adopt a Cat During March Meowness at Castaic Animal Center
California State University, Northridge is partnering with the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and the Tataviam Land Conservancy to battle the impact of climate change in disadvantaged communities throughout the San Fernando Valley by establishing “urban forests.”
CSUN Partners with Fernandeño Tataviam Band to Build Urban Forests
Join the Santa Clarita Artists Association on Monday, April 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 23630 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355, for the SCAA monthly meeting and guest demonstrator.
April 15: SCAA Presents Debbie Abshear Watercolor Demo
Residents are invited to join members of the Santa Clarita City Council for a special ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the addition of Santa Clarita's 38th park, Skyline Ranch Park, 18355 Skyline Ranch Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351, to the Santa Clarita parks system on Saturday, April 6, at 10 a.m.
April 6: Grand Opening for Santa Clarita’s 38th Park
The Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center is preparing for the annual fundraising event, Celebrity Waiter, with the theme “California Dreamin’” on Saturday, April 27 at Bella Vida, 27180 Golden Valley Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91351.
Table Sponsorships Still Available for Celebrity Waiter Dinner
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Ken Striplin | A Fun, Festive, Egg-Filled Day
SCVNews.com