Hermosa Beach, El Segundo officers honored for lifesaving actions
Lifesaving Award recipient Detective George Brunn of the Hermosa Police Department with Chief Sharon Papa. Photos
On March 29, 2017, Hermosa Beach Police Detective George Brunn responded to a call regarding a woman threatening suicide. She was sitting on the third floor balcony of her locked, apartment holding a large knife to her throat. From the neighboring balcony, Brunn engaged the 37-year-old woman in conversation. He learned she was afraid of being taken to a mental hospital and was distrustful of police because of bad experiences in the past.
Over the course of nearly an hour, Brunn convinced the woman to leave the balcony and unlock the door to her apartment.
For convincing the woman not to take her own life, Detective Brunn was presented with the Lifesaving Award by Hermosa Beach Police Chief Sharon Papa during the 44th annual South Bay Medal of Valor Awards Luncheon last Thursday at the Torrance Marriott.
Hermosa Beach Police Chief Sharon Papa with Lifesaving Award recipients Everett Faulk and Michael Rushton.
Also honored with Lifesaving Awards at the luncheon were Hermosa Beach police officers Everett Faulk and Matthew Rushton. On the evening of July 3, 2017, a Hermosa resident dialed 911 to report that her 28-year-old boyfriend was choking. The two officers arrived at the caller’s home within one minute of the dispatcher’s call.
The boyfriend had no pulse when Faulk and Rushton cleared his airway and began CPR compressions. The victim was blue and the officers feared their resuscitation efforts were going to be futile when suddenly the victim’s pulse resumed.
Several weeks later, the victim thanked the two officers and told them he was an addict, but had been clean and sober since they saved his life.
Medal of Valor recipient Jeff Darringer of the El Segundo Police Department with Chief Bill Whalen.
El Segundo officers Jeff Darringer and Tony de La Rambelje were also honored at the Medal of Valor Luncheon.
On Jan. 18, 2017 Officer Darringer responded to calls concerning a man who had threatened people on the street with an ax and then fled in a car. Officer Darringer forced the suspect’s car to stop by tapping the rear of his car in what is known as a Pursuit Intervention Technique, or PIT. The suspect’s car spun to a stop next to the driver’s side of the Darringer’s patrol car. The suspect then exited his car with his ax and jumped on the hood of the patrol car. As the suspect was about to smash the patrol car’s windshield with his ax, Officer Darringer shot him through the windshield. Two other officers also shot the suspect, who subsequently died from his gunshot wounds.
Medal of Valor recipient Jeff Darringer of the El Segundo Police Department with Chief Bill Whalen.
El Segundo Officer Tony de La Rambelje received the Distinguished Service Award for his response to a call about a suspect with a deadly weapon. Upon arriving at the suspect’s residence, Officer La Rambelje discovered him brandishing two knives and bleeding profusely from self inflicted wounds. Over the next 20 minutes, Officer La Rambelje utilized his crisis negotiation training to calm the man and convince him to put down his knives. ER