California EMS Awards

Brave. Dedicated. Willing. Reliable. 

These words describe the 80,000 licensed or certified EMS providers in California. They demonstrate these qualities every day by coming to the aid of others when they are most in need and working to ensure that the EMS system operates well. However, each year, due to circumstance or extraordinary effort, certain individuals among us shine the brightest. The EMS Authority seeks to recognize those individuals through the California Emergency Medical Services Awards Program.

Meritorious Service Medal

Recognizes an individual for a meritorious act or service within EMS. This award also recognizes an EMT for an act that is above and beyond the call of duty in the course of a particular EMS emergency or event.

James Armstrong, AMR Napa County

Jason Bond, AMR Napa County

Michael Cabano, Santa Clara County EMS Agency

Brad Gates, EMS Authority (Prev. AMR Contra Costa County)

Stephen Johnston, AMR Placer County

Michael Marsh, American Medial Response

Chad Newland, AMR Contra Costa County

Scott Newlin, AMR Contra Costa County

James Pierson, Medic Ambulance

Jason Weed, Santa Clara County EMS Agency

For their stoic disposition and methodical collaboration in the face of some of the largest natural disasters in California's recent history.

EMS Overhead Team Members James Armstrong, Jason Bond, Michael Cabano, Brad Gates, Stephen Johnston, Michael Marsh, Chad Newland, Scott Newlin, James Pierson, and Jason Weed coordinated multiple evacuations and interfacility transports during the Valley Fire, the Clayton Fire, the North Bay Fires, the Mendocino Complex Fires, and the catastrophic Camp Fire.

Under their exceptional leaderhip, no EMS crews or patients were injured or killed, no ambulances were involved in any accidents, no patients were misplaced or lost. Given the success of their "EMS Overhead Team" model, the EMS Authority Disaster Medical Services Division and the Ambulance Strike Team Advisory Committee is working to adopt the "EMS Overhead Team" concept as a best practice moving forward.

Huy Truong, AMR

Stephen Brown, AMR

Norbert Moreno, AMR

For selflessly running into the scene of an active shooting to provide medical care to a fallen police officer, subjecting themselves to great personal risk without hesitation.

Paramedics Huy Truong and Stephen Brown and EMT Norbert Moreno were a part of the response team the fateful night that Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona was ambushed. Truong, Brown, and Moreno, along with Davis Firefighters, became the targets of an assailant who took Officer Corona's life. As the shooting subsided, the three administered care to the fallen officer, providing the best possible care and taking great personal risk in keeping with the finest traditions of emergency services.

Daniel Lozano, Gilroy Fire Department

Jeff MacPhail, Gilroy Fire Department

Heinz Maibaum, Gilroy Fire Department

Bernhard Szilagyi, Gilroy Fire Department

Joshua Guerriera, Gilroy Fire Department

Shaun Peyghambary, Gilroy Fire Department

Keving Bebee, Gilroy Fire Department

Robert Silva, Gilroy Fire Department

For their heroic and selfless efforts while responding to victims of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting.

Fire Engineers Kevin Bebee, Daniel Lozano, Jeff MacPhail, Heinz Maibaum, and Bernhard Szilagyi, Firefighters Joshua Guerriera and Robert Silvia, and Captain Shaun Peyghambary were assigned to the Gilroy Garlic Festival for fire suppression and EMS response as needed. During the festival's cleanup, they heard rapid gunfire and soon witnessed panic and large crowds running out of the park in all directions.

Captain Peygambary made his way over to the other side of the festival and saw multiple injury people. He went back to the team and began to make assignments. The team began to receive gunshot victims in a designated collection point and within 70 minutes they had safely treated and transported thirteen patients.

Rick Puddy, AMR Napa County

Jonathan Hunt, AMR Napa County

For risking their lives and taking immediate action to rescue a severely injured passenger trapped inside a burning vehicle.

While driving to post, EMT Jonathan Hunt and Paramedic Rick Puddy came upon a car that had collided head-on with a tree at high speed. They found the passenger severely injured and pinned under the dashboard with the car's engine on fire. They grabbed their extinguishers and put out the flames to safely retrieve the patient who was rapidly transported to the regional trauma center.

Without the crews timely arrival and effective response to immediate life-threatening circumstances, the patient may have suffered major burns and further significant injury or death.

Keenan Blackburn, AMR Shasta County (not pictured)

Tosh Johndreau, AMR Shasta County

For their unwavering composure while fearlessly driving into a fire zone to aid a firefighter that suffered significant burns during the Carr Fire.

EMT Keenan Blackburn and Paramedic Tosh Johndreau pushed through blackout smoke conditions and blistering heat, as homes and vegetation burned around them, and safely loaded the injured firefighters into the ambulance to be transported to Mercy Medical Center. All night, Johndreau and Blackburn went on call after call, as the west side of Redding continued to burn and face evacuation orders.

Dominic Smith, American Ambulance

Eric Childs, American Ambulance

For risking their lives and jumping into action to evacuate a trapped driver from a vehicle at the scene of a fiery wreck.

EMT Dominic Smith and Paramedic Eric Childs were returning to station when they came upon a car crash involving a vehicle that hit the center divider head-on and had caught fire. The ambulance crew immediately notified dispatch and jumped into action, managing to break the passenger side window and pull the driver out of the burning vehicle. According to a CHP officer on scene, had it not been for the American Ambulance team, the unconscious driver most likely would have died in the vehicle.

Michael Copeland, American Medical Response

For providing 25 years of invaluable service as a member of the EMS community, both in the line of duty and as a volunteer.

Paramedic Michael Copeland regularly trains new paramedics and leads by example. On November 7, 2018, Mike responded to reports of a shooting at a local restaurant. As one of the first to arrive, he immediately began to treat a patient with multiple gunshot wounds. He would later realize that his patient was also a long-time friend and fellow first responder. Mike transported his patient to the hospital and returned to the scene to assist others. Soon afterward, Mike would find himself volunteering to provide care to citizens of his community throughout several days of devastating wildfires.

Lifesaving Medal

Recognizes an EMS provider who, while in an off-duty or volunteer capacity, makes an extremely noteworthy contribution to efforts which result in the saving of a life.

Marcopolo Agraan, UC Davis Medical Center

Anthony Anaya, Elk Grove Consumnes Service Fire Department

For intervening in an emergency situation and reducing patient injury by immediately providing lifesaving care to an injured band member during a parade.

While off-duty and attending a local parade. UC Davis registered nurse Marcopolo Agraan and CSD Fire intern Anthony Anaya did not hesitate to help after seeing a marching band member collapse ot the ground. Upon discovering the band member had no pulse and was not breathing, Agraan and Anaya initiated CPR. They continued their efforts until Sacramento Fire Department arrived. The patient regained consciousness in the emergency room and was discharged only days later.

Herbert Alpers, CAL FIRE Santa Clara Unit

Ashley Fellows, AMR Gilroy

For their acts of heroism and care for victims of the Gilroy Garlic Festival shooting while off duty.

Fire Captain Paramedic Herbert Alpers was competing in the food challenge of the Gilroy Garlic Festival when someone began firing a gun at the event. He sent his family to a safe place and sprang into action, meeting with other first aid providers to triage and treat victims and organize transportation to hospitals. While off-duty and without any preparation, Alpers went above and beyond to serve his community, providing lifesaving treatment.

As thousands of festival-goers tried to flee form the sound of gunshots, Paramedic Ashley Fellows ran against the crowd to help the injured. She immediately began triaging patients along-side her fellow, on-duty first responders and also performed CPR on one victim and helped load him into a truck for transport out of the festival. Ashley continued to provide medical aid and comfort to many more victims. When commended for her heroic actions, she humbly stated she was "just doing what she was trained to do."

John-John Leal, Royal Ambulance

For acting with urgency when taking care of an injured friend who had fallen out of an inner tube and sustained severe, life-threatening injuries.

While camping in the remote Tahoe National Forest, John-John Leal and his friends were tubing down a river when the rapids suddenly began to intensify. After Leal made it through a rough stretch of the water, he paddled to an island and waited for the others to make it through the rapids.

He then noticed his friend Juan had fallen off of his inner tube and blood was gushing down his arm from a two inch gash between his wrist and palm. Leal's training kicked in and he used a friends shirt as a tourniquet to control bleeding. John-John, with the help of another friend, stood Juan up and they all began to climb the steep rocky cliffside. Campers from the woods brought medical supplies and John-John cleaned up Juan's wound. Once the fire department arrived, they placed a new tourniquet on Juan and transported him to the hospital where he spent seven hours in surgery but is now on the road to recovery.

Richard Wilson, CAL FIRE Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit

For attentively responding to the pleading mother of a pulseless, young boy and performing CPR until he began breathing on his own.

Although off-duty, Engineer Rich Wilson ran to a hotel pool to assist a frantic mother pleading for help after finding her son in a pool, blue without a pulse. Wilson immediately started CPR while bystanders called 9-1-1. After a few rounds of CPR, the boy started breathing on his own. The Huntington Beach Fire Department arrived and took over patient care and the boy recovered fully. Without Wilson's heroic actions, the outcome may have been much different.

Michael Martinez, CAL Fire / Riverside County Fire Department

For taking immediate action to save a young childe drowning in a local swimming pool by alerting first responders and performing CPR until he was breathing again.

CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Michael Martinez was off-duty enjoying a day at his community pool when there was a sudden commotion about a baby drowning in the pool. Chief Martinez immediately dropped what he was doing and assisted another person in pullin gthe child from the pool. After checking for breathing and realizing the child was unresponsive, Martinez performed CPR and dialed 9-1-1 to request a fire/EMS response. As CAL FIRE Riverside County Fire Department arrived on scene, the child was alert and breathing with a regular pulse. The patient was further cared for and transported to a local pediatric hospital and finally discharged without complications. This outcome was in large part due to Martinez's swift response.

Christopher Wetzel, CAL FIRE

For the bravery he displayed while risking his life to take action and fearlessly assist a large crowd caught in an active shooter incident.

As the sound of gunfire scattered across a large outdoor concert venue, EMT Christopher Wetzel sprang to action. Wetzel noticed a man shot lying and began to render aid by applying pressure to his wound. As the gunfire continued, Wetzel laid on top of the injured man to shield him from additional gunfire. In doing so, Wetzel soon felt a pain in his own stomach, the result of a bullet richochet, but focused his concern on helping the injured man to safety.

As he passed over care to another first responder, Wetzel attempted to get his wife out of the venue to a safer location. Immediately outside of the gates, Wetzel noticed another man bleeding profusely and stayed with him to try and help. Once outside the line of fire, Chris completed a full assessment while continuing to manage this patient's injuries.

Community Service Award

Recognizes an EMT or Paramedic who has made an outstanding commitment to non-patient care aspects of a community's EMS system. 

Erik Johansen, Royal Ambulance

For his consistent dedication to improving public health and safety as an EMT field trainer who brings an ingenious approach and positive attitude to EMS education.

With a tireless commitment to leadership, Erik Johansen is a role model for new EMTs enterignteh field. Recently, Erik took over the field training of over 200 recruits straight out of the EMT new hire academy. In addition to his role as a mentor, Erik was instrumental in overhauling the operational side of the FTO program. He immediately went to work to improve and standardize procesess using LEAN thinking and data-driven initiatives. Erik has a passion for teaching and believes that the act of teaching makes one an even better learner. This attitude makes Erik adaptable, transparent, and always willining to keep an open mind. In addition to leading the FTO program, Erik balances his time volunteering as an instructor at Chabot College's EMT program while also studying to become a nurse.

Inter-Service EMS Recognition Medal

Recognizes outstanding heroism, extraordinary service, or achievement of non-EMS first responders, lifeguards, dispatchers, or public or private safety officers for outstanding or exceptional support of a particular EMS emergency, event or operation.

Patricia Banda, Culver City Police Department

Brandon Simon, Culver City Police Department

For saving a five-year-old boy who stopped breathing after choking and may have otherwise lost his life.

Culver City Police Officers Patricia Banda and Brandon Simon responded to a 9-1-1 call from Rosa Hernandez who thought her son might be choking. When the officers arrived at the Hernandez home they found Rosa holding her son, who was not breathing. Hernandez handed her son over to the officers, and Officer Banda began giving back thrusts. Eventually he began to breath and eventually cry, all before the arrival of paramedics. He was transported to the hospital as a precaution, but was later discharged with no complications.

Brian Cappell, Culver City Police Department

For quickly responding to a mother's call for help and caring for her choking infant child.

Brian Cappell arrived to find baby Harley not breathing and with blood in her mouth. His training kicked in immediately and he flipped the baby over and started striking her on the back. Officer Cappell breathed a sigh of relief as he soon heard the baby cry. The paramedics arrived soon after. Harley's mother, Janet Lockridge, says words can't express how thankful she is to Cappell for saving her daughter's life.

Phil Dibene, California Highway Patrol

For coming to the aid of a panicking couple following a roadside delivery and helping their newborn child achieve its first breaths of life.

Calvin Thompson was on the phone with fire dispatchers, who were guiding him and Tiffana LeMaster through childbirth, when they pulled over onto the shoulder of Interstate 5. After delivering their baby Ezekiel on the sie of the highway, they noticed he was blue and wasn't breathing. California Highway Patrol Offier Phil Dibene arrived and immediately picked up Ezekial and gave him a few blows to the back to clear his airway, after which he began breathing spontaneously. While holding Ezekiel in the nursery at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento, Officer Dibene said he's just elated that everything turned out well.

Katerine (KT) McNulty, Redwood Empire Dispatch Communications Authority

For the overwhelming support she provided while dispatching emergency response resources and assisting distressed citizens in peril during some of the most devasting California wildfires.

Dispatch Operations Manager Katerine McNulty remained poised to perform call-taking, dispatching, and resource-ordering activities during the devastation from the Tubbs, Nuns, and Pocket fires in 2017. On several occasions, Katerine gave life-saving instructions to citizens in situations that were so unique no emergency dispatch protocols existed for them. Many of the instructions provided have been adopted in the Trapped by Wildfire instructions of the latest EFD protocols. The work McNulty and her team did for thos callers will now live on to save many more lives throughout the world.

Gregory Palomo, Oaklan Police Department

For the lifesaving acts he performed to save an unresponsive, newborn infant, exemplifying his dedication to public service.

Oakland Police Department Officer Gregory Palomo saved a life by resuscitating a newborn infant, just a few minutes old. Officer Palomo received a report of a woman sitting in a vehicle and in need of medical attention. Palomo located the woman and immediately noticed she had just given birth to a baby who was not breathing. He performed CPR for about one minute before the infant began breathing. EMS arrived shortly thereafter and transported the baby to the hospital where he and mother were reported to do well.

Civilian Award for EMS

Recognizes a civilian (non-certified, non-health care provider) who provides extraordinary service during the course of an EMS emergency. 

Amanda Duncan, Sonora, CA

Amanda Duncan was swimming in a remote area of the Stanislaus National Forest when she saw a woman struggling to stay above water. Duncan then saw the woman floating face down and jumped in to pull her out with the help of others. She performed CPR and several abdominal thrusts which dislodged a large obstruction of food from the victim's throat. Duncan then hiked back to her car and called for help. A CAL FIRE helicopter hoisted the victim to a waiting ambulance. Amanda's selfless, heroic actions saved the woman's life.

Isabell Pierce, Newcastle, CA

For courageusly springing to action and calmly aiding her wounded father and ensure his safety.

During what began as a normal car ride, Isabell Pierce saw her father Brian Pierce bleeding form his chest after being shot by a person from passing vehicle. Mr. Pierce grabbed a sweatband and placed it over the wound, and without hestitation Isabell held it in place and applied pressure while her father continued to drive. They drove to a fire station in Loomis and Paramedics rushed him to Sutter Roseville. Pierce's right arm is in a sling, but doctors say his bone will heal and he is eager to get back to the gym.

Michael Quinliven, Eureka, CA

For the heroic acts he performed in the face of danger, risking his life to ensure the safety of others.

On July 2nd, Caltrans supervisor Mike Quinliven found a father and son who had both been shot in the head in their vehicle. Although he had no idea if the shooter remained a threat, Quinliven pulled the men from the vehicle and began to administer first aid. In doing he directly helped the son survive long enough for transport to the hospital.

On July 29th, Quinliven saw the Ranch Fire jump the highway while working on State Route 20. After notifying California Highway Patrol, he turned on his emergency lights and drove into the fire. He found Honalee Newman parked on the side of the road with three children in the car. He knocked on the window and signaled for her to follow him. With only enough visibility to see the center lines of the road, Quinliven guided the family out of the fire. Then he helped law enforcement evacuate more people out of the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex fires which grew to 410,000 acres.

Certificate of Commendation

Joseph Attkisson, Visalia, CA Army National Guard

Chau To, San Jose, CA Army National Guard

Malcom Meyers, Redding, Precious Cargo Non-Emergency Medical Services

Stephen Robinson, Carlsbad, REACH Air Medical Services