37th Annual Public Safety Awards

Huntington Beach was reminded recently of how much a selfless act can mean in a life-or-death situation. The 37th Annual Public Safety Awards Oct. 9 at the Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort in Huntington Beach recognized many

Gus Santos: Good Samaritan

Gus Santos, of the Huntington Beach Building and Safety Department, received the department’s Good Samaritan Award for his efforts in spearheading a team of volunteers to help with home repairs for an elderly man, known as Joe, who lives alone in Huntington Beach.

In August, 10 volunteers helped install grab bars in Joe’s bathroom, replaced two leaking faucets, cleaned up the yard, replaced a broken wheelchair ramp, and did several other much-needed repairs in time for the man’s 90th birthday this month.

“We were able to help out Joe, and we all gained so much from it,” said Santos, who emphasized he is always looking for more volunteers for similar projects.

Ibere Luppi: Good Samaritan

Ibere Luppi received a Good Samaritan Award from the Fire Department for his rescue of a surfer who was having a seizure. Luppi was out in the water in Huntington Beach and saw another surfer floating face down. When he realized the surfer was having a seizure, he paddled straight over.

“It was decisive,” said Fire Chief Duane Olson, who was presenting the awards. “I think that there could have been a toxic spill there and he would have gone through it, because he was focused on the individual.”

Luppi and another nearby surfer prevented the victim from drowning and brought him to the shore, where paramedics took over. His actions saved the man’s life.

“These are the kinds of guys I look to hire,” Olson said.

Michael Perry: Good Samaritan

Huntington Beach Fire Capt. Michael Perry received a Good Samaritan Award from the Fire Department. In December 2007, after a woman and her three children lost their possessions and Christmas presents in a fire, Perry stayed up that night thinking about the family and what he could do to help.

“He couldn’t let this fire go,” Olson said.

Soon after, Perry recruited the Huntington Beach Firefighters Assn. to help collect food and other items for the family. With his own money, Perry bought toys for the kids, including a bicycle for the eldest. Perry and the association surprised the family with the gifts Dec. 21, just in time for Christmas.

“[Perry’s] a brave heart, a compassionate guy,” Olson said.

Tim Stuart: Good Samaritan

Tim Stuart, a recurrent ocean lifeguard II for Huntington Beach, received a Good Samaritan Award from the Fire Department for his role in helping a 74-year-old man who had fallen from his bike.

A crowd had gathered around the man and one person was giving CPR, but incorrectly. Stuart tactfully intervened and administered CPR until paramedics arrived, which helped the man survive cardiac arrest. The man was resuscitated and taken to the hospital.

Matt Levesque and Conor Gorey: Heroism

Matt Levesque, a Los Angeles County Firefighter from Fountain Valley, and Conor Gorey of Huntington Beach received the Fire Department’s Heroism Award. The two dove into the tidal waters of the Bolsa Chica Oct. 27, 2007, to save a woman who was trapped inside her car. Gorey had seen the car go into the water, and Levesque joined in the efforts to help.

“I don’t think these guys even took their shoes off,” Olson said.

When they realized they could not open the car door, they swam to shore and got a crowbar.

“By the time Huntington Engine 46 got there, these guys had done all the hard work,” Huntington Beach Fire Capt. Michael Tamisyahu said earlier in the year. “[The woman] said that if those guys hadn’t got her out, she would have drowned.”

John Hishinuma and Jonathan Borges: Good Samaritans

John Hishinuma and Jonathan Borges received a Good Samaritan Award from the Community Services Department, Marine Safety Division. The two were body surfing when they saw a victim struggling in the water face down. The man had been tumbled by a wave and injured. Borges and Hishinuma swam to the victim, rolled him over and brought him to shore where lifeguards were able to take over.

Borges of San Pedro said the event has changed his outlook when on the water.

“I’m in search mode, always looking for something,” he said.

He is taking EMT classes now and aspires to be a lifeguard or other public safety official.

“It’s going to be either the suits or the red shorts,” Borges said.

Carlos Glines: Valor

Lifeguard Carlos Glines received the Community Services Department, Marine Safety Division, Valor Award. On May 22, a vessel with four boaters became disabled and began drifting close to shore with high surf near the Bolsa Chica State Beach jetty.

Glines was dispatched and after securing his vehicle, he paddled out on his rescue board and told the boaters to don life jackets and get in the water.

One boater jumped in without a flotation device and was being carried toward dangerous breakers. Glines immediately rescued him.

The others put vests on and jumped off the boat just before it capsized in the impact zone.

Glines’ quick thinking and actions saved four boaters’ lives.

Ronald Garwood and Richard McNaughton: Good Samaritans

Huntington Beach police officers Richard McNaughton and Ronald Garwood received the Police Department’s Good Samaritan Award for their response to a 911 call July 11 from a distraught mother who said her 1-year-old son was choking. An emergency response team was on its way, but they were held up by road construction. McNaughton and Garwood were flying a helicopter in the area, heard the call and requested permission to land near the home.

After McNaughton landed the helicopter in the street, Garwood got out, went inside and dislodged an object stuck in the infant’s throat.

Fire department paramedics said Garwood and McNaughton saved the boy not only from death, but from brain damage as well.

Aaron Garrido and Read Parker: Valor

Police officers Aaron Garrido and Read Parker received the Police Department’s Valor Award. On June 27, Garrido responded to a call about a man suspected of a felony hit-and-run. He found a black truck with smoke coming out stopped at a red light. When he attempted to make a traffic stop, the truck kept going.

After a two-mile pursuit, Parker joined in. Together, the officers were able to do a Pursuit Intervention Technique to stop the truck. Parker asked the suspect to get out of the truck, but the truck started moving toward Parker.

Garrido used his car to ram the truck away from Parker. After the suspect refused exiting a second time, the officers noticed a fire moving toward the driver.

When they went to remove the suspect, he held the door closed. After a third attempt, they removed the suspect as flames were beginning to engulf the cab.

The officers put their own lives at risk to rescue a man who was later determined to have attempted serious injury and death to his wife and three children in a hit-and-run, according to police.

— Jennifer Frehn