Peace Officers Association, Ventura County – Medal of Merit Ceremony
October 7, 2017 Air Force One Pavilion at the Regan Library
Last Saturday, my fellow teammates and I received the Medal of Merit for the snow & ice rescue we performed back in February 2017. We had a shortened training day and met up at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley for the ceremony.
There were several honorees at the event, celebrating their efforts of bravery and valor. Most were Law Enforcement personnel, but there were a noble few civilian recipients as well. One of which was for physically apprehending a drunken suspect that was trying to evade the police, after he drove his vehicle into someone’s house!
When our team was called upon to receive our medals, as well as in the days leading to the event, I felt strangely conflicted about receiving our notoriety. On one hand I was proud to serve on the team and to have done our jobs safely, quickly and with proficiency. These difficult environmental conditions were what we train for, and why we train regularly. On the other hand, someone died, and I found it difficult to celebrate and look happy, thinking that among the crowd were possibly members of the deceased person’s family.
As the MC explained the events from that crazy February day, it reminded me of how quickly things can change. A regular snow and ice training day for us out of the county, became being at the perfect place and time for the survivors of this accident. A simple choice to be willing to help others, through the organization of Search & Rescue became an opportunity to mediate a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) and save the lives of 4 people. A simple choice to answer the call to serve my community 8 years ago turned into experiences, relationships and friendships that I never realized would change me and affect the person and father that I am today.