CCPD Members Recognized for Heroic Acts and Superior Performance
Published on August 23, 2024
Culver City Police Department members were recognized this week in a ceremony that honored heroic acts, dedication to service, and superior performance while serving our community.
Here are the highlights:
✨Newly promoted Sergeant Barbosa was presented with his Sergeant badge and it was pinned on by his loving family.
Patriot Award Recipient
✨Sergeant Grant
The Patriot Award was presented to Sergeant Grant in honor of his military service while serving the City of Culver City.
Life Saving Award Recipients
The Life Saving Award is issued to an employee who has taken heroic action to preserve life, often placing themselves in harm's way to protect others.
✨Sergeant Umutyan
While conducting a burglary suppression operation near the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Sergeant Umutyan witnessed a suspect break into a parked vehicle. As the officers attempted to stop the suspect, he fled in his car, leading them on a pursuit. The suspect crashed into a light pole, and the vehicle burst into flames with the driver still inside. Without hesitation, Officer Umutyan acted quickly. Using his baton, he shattered the driver’s side window, pried open the door, and pulled the suspect to safety just moments before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames. Sergeant Umutyan put his own safety at risk to save the suspect’s life.
✨Officer Espitia, Officer Vargas, Sergeant Tropeano
Officers Espitia, Vargas, and Sergeant Tropeano responded to a welfare check for a woman after her son expressed concern when she failed to meet with friends and wasn’t answering calls. Given the victim’s medical history, the officers took immediate action. Upon arrival, they found her car in the parking garage but could not get in contact with her. After observing spilled medication and light coming from a bedroom through partially opened blinds, the officers suspected a medical emergency. When neighbors and security couldn’t assist with entry, Sergeant Tropeano noticed a second-story window slightly ajar. He climbed onto the balcony and entered the residence, where the team found the female unconscious but still breathing in her bathtub. Thanks to the quick and determined actions of Officers Vargas, Espitia, and Sergeant Tropeano, the victim received CPR and was rescued and transported to a hospital for care.
✨Officer Kakuk and Detective Rios
Officer Kakuk and Detective Rios responded to a call involving an assault with a deadly weapon at a local church. Upon arrival, they detained a suspect and were directed to the victim, who had suffered multiple stab wounds and was struggling to breathe. Detective Rios immediately began life-saving measures, applying pressure to the wound on the victim's neck, while Officer Kakuk did the same for the wound on the victim’s lower back. The officers continued to control the bleeding until medical personnel arrived and transported the victim to UCLA Medical Center. Thanks to the quick actions of CCPD, the victim stabilized after extensive medical treatment.
✨Detective M. Stulp
Detective M. Stulp responded to a call of a shooting that had just occurred. Stulp, along with other responding units, quickly arrived on the scene and located a male adult with a gunshot wound to his upper leg and a sawed-off double-barrel shotgun lying on the ground next to him. Detective Stulp applied a tourniquet on the subject to prevent additional flow of blood from his leg. CCFD responded and transported the victim to a nearby hospital where he received further treatment.
✨Detective K. Stulp and Officer Jaen
Officer Jaen and Detective K. Stulp responded to a call regarding a male in the passenger seat of a vehicle who was not breathing because of a possible fentanyl overdose. The officers checked the man’s pulse and found he did not have one and began administering CPR. The officers distributed three doses of Narcan which did not have any impact on the subject. The officers spent 15 minutes taking turns applying chest compressions on the subject until medical personnel arrived. The subject was transported to a local hospital where he regained a pulse.
✨Detective Scharlin
Detective Scharlin responded to the call of an unconscious man not breathing lying in a local park. Scharlin ran to the area and located the man who was lying on his back underneath a table. Detective Scharlin pulled the subject from underneath the table and quickly assessed that he was not breathing and had no pulse. Immediately Scharlin began CPR and continued performing CPR until Fire Department personnel arrived. The man was transported to the hospital where he regained a pulse.
✨Detective Simon and Detective Banda
Detectives Simon and Banda responded to the call of a toddler not breathing. The detectives ran into the apartment and located the child who was being held by his frantic mother. The detectives did not hesitate to take ahold of the child and began to administer life-saving measures. Detectives Simon and Banda continued their efforts for several minutes until the child began to cry and remain conscious.
✨Sergeant Cappell
Sergeant Cappell responded to a call of a four-month-old baby not breathing inside of a vehicle on Overland Avenue. The mother sent her daughter to flag down help. Sergeant Cappell ran towards the vehicle and could hear the mother in distress stating that her baby was not breathing. Cappell took the baby and began life saving efforts, by turning the baby over and giving her measured strikes against her back to dislodge whatever was blocking her airway. The baby began to breathe and as she cried, the mother was relieved that Sergeant Cappell saved her baby’s life.
✨Officer Thomas
Officer Thomas responded to Media Park regarding an assault with a deadly weapon where four subjects were using knives and sticks to assault a subject. Officer Thomas located the victim who was covered in blood. The man had suffered lacerations to his face, and had a knife wound which went through his stomach. Officer Thomas used his trauma kit and began to provide life saving measures that proved to be effective. CCFD responded and ultimately transported the subject to a nearby hospital. Later, CCFD personnel commended Officer Thomas for his efforts in saving the man's life.
500 Hours Award Recipient
✨Volunteer Kramer
The 500 Hours Award is presented to Volunteers who have selflessly dedicated more than 500 hours of their time to assisting the department in the year.
Special Recognition Award Recipients
✨Sergeant Tropeano
✨Parking Enforcement Officer Gourley
The Special Recognition Award is issued to an employee whose performance has made a significant contribution or improvement to the operation of the police department within the previous 12 months.
Sustained Superiority Award Recipients
✨Detective M. Stulp
✨Officer Joncic
✨Information Systems Analyst Mizuo
The Sustained Superiority Award is presented for consistently performing duties in a superior and exemplary manner for the previous 12 months.
Distinguished Service Medal Award Recipients
✨Officer Garrido
✨Sergeant Ogden
The Distinguished Service Medal is issued to an employee who has served with distinction and honor and has greatly contributed to the mission of the police department over a significant period of time.
Curt Massey Career Achievement Award Recipients
✨Forensic Specialist Muller
✨Property Technician Turner
The Curt Massey Career Achievement Award is presented to an employee who consistently reflects exemplary performance of duties and behavior that would constitute being identified as an outstanding role model for other law enforcement professionals as well as for members of the community. This award is presented in remembrance of Lieutenant Curt Massey who tragically lost his life in 2009.