Lifesaving Awards: Stories of 11 Lives Saved by Sheriff's Deputies Throughout Los Angeles County

The Lifesaving Award is presented to employees or Reserve members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department whose actions result in the saving or preservation of a human life that otherwise would have expired without the employee’s direct involvement: 

DEPUTY DANIEL HOYOS 
DEPUTY MARCO A. MIRANDA 
Compton Sheriff’s Station 

On February 22, 2011, Deputies Daniel Hoyos and Marco Miranda, assigned to Compton Station, responded to a “baby not breathing” call. When the deputies arrived at the residence, they observed hysterical family members surrounding the baby’s grandmother, who was attempting to give her grandson mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. 

Upon seeing the deputies, the grandmother immediately handed her grandson to Deputy Hoyos, who conducted an assessment and determined the child was not breathing. Deputy Hoyos gave the baby a single breath, with no response. When he gave the baby a second breath, Deputy Miranda noticed air coming from the baby’s nose. As Deputy Miranda cradled the baby’s head and squeezed his nose, Deputy Hoyos gave him repeated breaths until the baby responded by moving his upper body and arms. 

Paramedics arrived, continued to render aid, and transported the child to a local hospital, where he made a full recovery. The baby’s grandmother credited Deputies Hoyos and Miranda for taking quick action and saving her grandson’s life. 

For their lifesaving actions, Deputies Hoyos and Miranda were presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY ZARE VOSKANYAN 
Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station 

On April 22, 2011, Deputy Zare Voskanyan, assigned to Crescenta Valley Station, responded to a call of a male having a heart attack. He arrived at the location prior to paramedics and was directed to the victim, who was not breathing and had no pulse. 

Deputy Voskanyan immediately began CPR with the assistance of the victim’s housekeeper. By the time paramedics arrived, the victim was conscious, breathing and had a heart rhythm. Due to the fact the victim had resumed his heart rhythm, paramedics were able to transport the man to a hospital that could perform a higher level of cardiac care, rather than the closest hospital. 

Paramedics emphatically stated that if Deputy Voskanyan had not begun immediate CPR, the victim would not have survived. 

For his lifesaving actions, Deputy Voskanyan was presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY TIM L. HAZLEWOOD 
Marina Del Rey Sheriff’s Station 

On May 9, 2011, Deputy Tim Hazlewood was stopped near an entrance to the 105 freeway when he observed a female assaulting another female with a 2-foot metal pipe. He immediately requested assistance and ran to help the victim. Deputy Hazlewood drew his weapon, identified himself as a Deputy Sheriff, and ordered the suspect several times to drop the pipe. The suspect ignored him. 

Due to the suspect’s behavior, coupled with the fact that several Cal Trans workers were in the background, Deputy Hazlewood holstered his weapon, grabbed the back of the suspect’s sweatshirt, and took her to the ground. The suspect maintained control of the pipe as she lay face down on the ground with her arms underneath her. As they struggled for control of the pipe, a passing motorist stopped to 
assist and together they were able to disarm and handcuff the suspect without further incident. 

During this highly volatile situation, Deputy Hazlewood demonstrated courage, wisdom and a reverence for life when he elected to use a lesser form of force due to the presence of others at the scene. His judgment and execution of sound tactical principles resulted in a quick resolution to a situation that could have led to a tragic ending. 

For his lifesaving actions, Deputy Hazlewood was presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY CAMERON J. BRAZILE 
DEPUTY JESUS ARGUETA 
DEPUTY CARLOS L. SANCHEZ 
Carson Sheriff’s Station 

On June 20, 2010, three vehicles traveling on the 405 freeway were involved in a violent collision. All of the vehicles sustained major damage and one had burst into flames. Carson Station deputies quickly responded to the scene, prior to the arrival of paramedics. 

As other deputies stabilized a critically injured driver and attempted to distinguish the flames, Deputies Cameron Brazile, Jesus Argueta and Carlos Sanchez noticed a baby that had been removed from one of the vehicles was not moving and unresponsive. Deputy Brazile immediately requested the patch and learned the paramedics’ arrival time would be extended. Because the baby remained unresponsive, Deputy Brazile decided to transport her to a local hospital via radio car, with the assistance of Deputies Argueta and Sanchez. 

Additional Carson Station personnel blocked intersections as Deputy Argueta used his excellent driving skills to safely transport the child to the hospital. Deputy Sanchez assisted in escorting the baby to the 
pediatric emergency room, where a doctor advised that the decision to transport the baby immediately saved her life. 

For their actions, Deputies Brazile, Argueta and Sanchez were presented the Lifesaving Award. 

(SEE PHOTOS OF MOM AND RESCUED BABY THANKING THE DEPUTIES AT THE AWARDS CEREMONY - BOTTOM OF THIS MESSAGE) 



DEPUTY STACIE M. DOBINE 
Twin Towers Correctional Facility 
(now assigned to Temple Sheriff's Station) 

On May 31, 2011, Deputy Stacie Dobine, then assigned to the Twin Towers Correctional Facility, was driving her personal vehicle westbound on the 10 freeway on her way to work. While sitting in heavy traffic, she was suddenly rear ended by a motorcycle that had been traveling at a high rate of speed. The impact ejected both the driver and passenger of the motorcycle. 

Deputy Dobine immediately exited her vehicle and saw that the female passenger was bleeding from her head and not breathing. Deputy Dobine rushed to her vehicle and retrieved her Department-issued CPR mask. She directed a bystander to assist her and, with Deputy Dobine providing instruction, the two began administering CPR on the victim. After approximately 6 minutes, the victim began to breathe on her own. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was expected to make a full recovery. 

Deputy Dobine displayed outstanding leadership skills during this incident. Her preparedness and performance under intense pressure resulted in a life being saved. 

For her actions, Deputy Dobine was presented the Lifesaving Award. 



SERGEANT THERESA A. DAWSON 
DEPUTY JAVIER MUNOZ 
Lancaster Sheriff’s Station 

On October 27, 2011, Sergeant Theresa Dawson and Deputy Javier Munoz, assigned to Lancaster Station, responded to an attempt suicide call. When they arrived at the residence, they were immediately directed to the garage, where they observed a man hanging from the rafters with a noose tied around his neck. 

Sergeant Dawson and Deputy Munoz worked quickly to cut the rope and take the victim down. They checked his vital signs and found him unresponsive. They immediately began CPR, and after approximately one minute the victim gasped and appeared to inhale. They continued CPR until paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital. 

The immediate response and decisive actions of Sergeant Dawson and Deputy Munoz not only saved the victim’s life, but prevented him from suffering any irreversible brain damage. 

The victim’s mother later sent a letter to Sergeant Dawson and Deputy Munoz, thanking them for saving her son’s life and advising that he had made a full recovery. 

For their actions, Sergeant Dawson and Deputy Munoz were presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY WILSON D. WONG 
Century Sheriff’s Station 

On August 13, 2011, Century Station received a call from a woman who stated her granddaughter had just given birth to a baby and they were in dire need of medical assistance. Deputy Wilson Wong and his partner arrived at the scene within minutes, prior to the arrival of paramedics. 

As Deputy Wong’s partner remained in front of the location to assist Fire personnel in locating the residence, Deputy Wong was immediately directed to the bathroom, where he observed a young female crying uncontrollably and a newborn baby resting inside of the bowl. The baby’s umbilical cord had been cut and she did not appear to be breathing. 

Deputy Wong quickly retrieved the newborn and wrapped it in a towel. He turned her over onto her stomach while sweeping her airway with his finger in an attempt to get her to breathe. When this did not work, he asked a female at the location for a nasal aspirator, which he used to clear the baby’s airway. The baby began to cry and breathe on her own. 

Deputy Wong’s ability to perform his duties under intense pressure undoubtedly saved this child’s life. 

For his actions, Deputy Wong was presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY BRYAN L. WHITE 
DEPUTY MATTHEW C. SCHWABE 
Marina Del Rey Sheriff’s Station 

On May 16, 2010, Deputies Bryan White and Matthew Schwabe, assigned to Marina del Rey Station, responded to a medical aid call for a 76-year-old man who had collapsed while piloting a sailboat during a regatta. They were advised that the man was unconscious and CPR was in progress by a crew member aboard the sailboat. 

Deputies White and Schwabe located the sailboat among numerous other boats by communicating with the crew members via marine radio and locating their signal. Deputy Schwabe guided their patrol boat alongside the sailboat, an extremely difficult maneuver that requires great skill, and Deputy White was able to board. Deputy White took over CPR with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator and restored the victim’s pulse. Fire Department lifeguards soon arrived and the victim was rushed to a local hospital. 

An attending nurse advised that without the lifesaving efforts of Deputies White and Schwabe, the victim may not have survived. 

For their actions, Deputies White and Schwabe were presented the Lifesaving Award. 


DEPUTY BENJAMIN J. ALVARADO 
DEPUTY FERNANDO L. KIBIC 
Lakewood Sheriff’s Station 

On December 16, 2011, Deputies Benjamin Alvarado and Fernando Kibic, assigned to Lakewood Station, responded to a residence in the city of Artesia regarding a child not breathing. Upon their arrival, Deputy Kibic discovered the child in an upstairs room, lying on the floor unconscious. He immediately began CPR. 

After several unsuccessful attempts to get the child to breathe, Deputy Kibic picked the child’s limp body up and rushed him downstairs so Deputy Alvarado could assist him. Together they continued CPR until the arrival of Fire personnel, who took charge of the lifesaving efforts. After a few minutes the child began to cry. 

Fire personnel decided to rush the child to the nearest hospital and requested that Deputies Alvarado and Kibic assist them with traffic control along the way. They immediately coordinated Sheriff’s units over the radio and provided an escort to the hospital. The Fire Captain later commented that the deputies did an incredible job in saving the life of the child. 

For their actions, Deputies Alvarado and Kibic were presented the Lifesaving Award. 



SERGEANT RONALD R. MARQUEZ 
DEPUTY VICTOR L. LOCKLIN 
Sheriff’s Transit Services Bureau South 

On December 8, 2011, Sergeant Ronald Marquez and Deputy Victor Locklin, assigned to Transit Services Bureau South, responded to the Green Line station in Downey regarding a man who had climbed the street level overpass fence and onto the ledge situated above the rail line and 105 freeway. The man was positioned as though he might commit suicide at any moment by jumping from the ledge and onto the tracks below. The radio call indicated the man had mental health problems and that he was distraught and wanted to kill himself. 

The man was cautiously approached by Sergeant Marquez, Deputy Locklin and two Downey Police Department officers. The man would only speak with Sergeant Marquez and demanded that the others leave. 

Sergeant Marquez began a dialogue with the man and developed a rapport with him. After approximately 30 minutes, Sergeant Marquez was able to gain the man’s trust and asked if he could touch him. The man granted Sergeant Marquez permission, and when the man reached over the fence, Sergeant Marquez grabbed his arm and yelled for Deputy Locklin and the two Downey officers to help him. Together they were able to pull the man over the fence and onto the overpass, where he was subsequently detained. 


Without their direct intervention, it is likely that the distraught man would have committed suicide. 

For their actions, Sergeant Marquez and Deputy Locklin were presented the Lifesaving Award. 



DEPUTY CHRISTOPHER T. DEAVILLE 
DEPUTY GLENN J. JORIAN 
DEPUTY CHARLES W. WEATHERS 
Sheriff’s Parks Bureau 

On September 23, 2011, Deputies Christopher Deaville, Glenn Jorian, and Charles Weathers responded to a call of a single traffic collision in Quartz Hill. At the scene they found a 23-year-old man had been thrown from his vehicle. The deputies rushed to assist and quickly determined the victim had no pulse and was not breathing. 

Deputy Weathers, a trained emergency medical technician, took control and directed Deputies Jorian and Deaville to assist him with CPR. Deputy Jorian and Weathers and an off-duty nurse rolled the victim onto his back using a spine-stabilizing technique, while Deputy Deaville monitored the victim’s pulse. 

Deputy Weathers used a bag valve mask to apply rescue breaths while Deputy Jorian continued to stabilize the victim’s spine. After determining the victim’s chest was not rising properly, Deputy Weathers inserted a tube in the victim’s mouth and throat to open his airway. 

Paramedics arrived and allowed Deputy Weathers to continue his lifesaving efforts. The deputies then assisted paramedics in securing the victim for transport to a local hospital. 
Although the victim sustained major life-altering injuries, including a broken neck, and his road to recovery will be long and arduous, the opportunity for him to recover is due to the professional efforts of these three deputies. 

For their actions, Deputies Weathers, Jorian and Deaville were presented the Lifesaving Award.