SHERIFF'S OFFICE - D. THOMPSON

Sheriff's Office Medal Presentation - Sergeant Mull and Deputy Casada, Exceptional Duty Medal; Deputy Diller and Deputy Creager, Lifesaving Medal.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 110

The Sheriff's Office has recently instituted a policy and process for recognizing our employees for exemplary and heroic work.  Our policy (Lexipol 1028.2) recognizes five (5) different awards/medals.  They are as follow:

MEDAL OF HONOR

This Medal of Honor is given posthumously to Office members or members of another law enforcement agency who die from injuries received while on-duty or acting in an official capacity as a member of the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office. It is presented to surviving family members.

MEDAL OF VALOR

 The Medal of Valor is the Offices highest award and may be awarded to office members or members of another law enforcement agency who distinguish themselves by conspicuous heroism under exigent or life-threatening conditions, and consciously perform acts of bravery or other outstanding feats while facing imminent danger.

 EXCEPTIONAL DUTY MEDAL

The Exceptional Duty Medal is given to office members or members of another law enforcement agency who for a highly creditable accomplishment or act in the line of duty that brings public acclaim to themself, their department, or the Law Enforcement Profession. These acts can be any one of the following but are not limited to;

1.  For acts of bravery during the performance of duties;

2. For service with distinction under extraordinary circumstances during a  

 major emergency, event, or special operation;

3. For other exceptional service to the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office.

LIFESAVING MEDAL

 The Medal for Lifesaving is awarded to office members or members of another law enforcement agency who personally perform acts that save human lives.  The acts need not be performed under conditions requiring bravery or exposure to great personal risk. To be considered, the person having been saved need not sustain life in the long term, but by the deliberate act of the office member, must have been prevented from dying at the time and place that the act or aid was performed.

 PURPLE HEART

 The Purple Heart is awarded to a person serving in any capacity with the San Benito County Sheriff’s Office or member of another law enforcement agency, who having sustained personal injury, in the intelligent performance of duty, against any adversary of San Benito County, the State of California, or the United States of America.

Today, the San Benito Sheriff's Office awards the following:

EXCEPTIONAL DUTY MEDAL to Sergant Michael Mull and Deputy Victor Casada.  On 1-11-17, Sergeant Mull and Deputy Casada responded to Lovers Lane during a major flood incident.  At 0200 hours, four people became trapped, inside their vehicle, with flood water rapidly rising around them.  Two of the occupants were children.  Once on scene, Sergeant Mull and Deputy Casada stripped off their "duty gear" and climbed onto the "running boards" of Cal Fire Truck 1681.  While enroute to the stranded truck, Sergeant Mull climbed into the passenger seat of the fire truck while Deputy Casada stayed on the running boards.  Once they were near the truck and trapped family,  Deputy Casada attempted to reach the children who were now on the roof of the truck, and the adults in the bed, as the waters were rising quickly.  By this time the water had reached the windshield of the truck.

Unable to reach the children, and without any swiftwater rescue training, Deputy Casada jumped into the water and swam to the truck.  He retrieved the children and passed them to Sergeant Mull in the fire truck.  Once the children were safe in the truck, Deputy Casada and Sergeant Mull transferred the adults and their two dogs to the safety of the fire truck.  The Cal Fire crew then drove them out of the affected area, to safety.

It was the quick thinking and selflessness of Sergeant Mull and Deputy Casada that led to the rescue of the family.  Though there were class 1 and 2 rapids, deep floodwater and debris, Deputy Casada selflessly jumped in to the water without the proper equipment for a water rescue.  Had Sergeant Mull not been there to assist in the transfer of the family, dogs and retrieval of Deputy Casada, this rescue would not have been successful.

LIFESAVING MEDAL to Deputy Cody Diller and Deputy Matthew Creager.  On June 5th, 2015, at approximately 0730 hours, Deputies Diller and Creager were dispatched to a possible trespass on Wright Rd.  Upon their arrival, they met with the reporting party who said a male had been trespassing on the property and was acting strange.  The male was not known to the resident.  Deputy Diller and Deputy Creager began a methodical search of the property.  During the search, the deputies located a male who had "hung" himself from a tree with a rope around his neck.  As the deputies approached the male, he was convulsing and was gasping for air.  

Deputies Diller and Creager took control of the male and freed him from the noose.  He was treated on scene and transported to the hospital.  During the course of the investigation it was learned the male was attempting to end his life.  He was transferred to a bay area trauma center where he was treated for his medical and psychological conditions.

It was the attention to duty and quick lifesaving efforts on the part of Deputy Diller and Deputy Creager that resulted in the male's life being saved. He was then able to receive the care he needed.