MEDAL OF COURAGE: Stopped attempted attack with knife

On April 11, 2019 at about 3:30 p.m., Deputy Zachary Bieker was dispatched to a bank in Yorba Linda for a call of a man with a knife. Bank employees had advised dispatch the subject was threatening them with a knife and was demanding access to a vault area. They also reported they believed the suspect was under the influence of drugs.

Deputy Bieker was the first deputy to arrive. Bank employees were on the phone with Dispatch stating the subject was advancing toward employees with a knife.  Believing the bank employees were in grave danger, Deputy Bieker entered the bank alone and engaged the suspect in an effort to prevent him from stabbing or killing the bank employees. 

As Deputy Bieker entered the bank, the suspect had a knife in his hand and was quickly advancing toward a group of employees who were trapped in the corner of the bank.  Recognizing the employees were in danger, he confronted the subject and ordered him to drop the knife and get on the ground.  The male subject briefly turned toward Deputy Bieker before letting go of the knife and dropping to his knees.  According to bank employees and patrons of the bank, Deputy Bieker’s decisive action and command presence saved their lives. 

Deputy Bieker received the Medal of Courage for his actions that day.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Sept. 10, 2020):

DANA POINT, Ca. (Sept. 10, 2020) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing. On Monday, Sept. 14, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law. A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense.

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On September 19, 2019 at 6 a.m., Motor Deputy Stephen Baker was on his way to work in Aliso Viejo when he came across a car that was partially blocking the right lane of the 15S/91W connector bridge. 

As Deputy Baker got closer to the vehicle, he noticed a woman lying on the ground outside the passenger door.  She immediately stood up and walked to the edge of the bridge where she threw her left leg over the four-foot wall.  Deputy Baker distracted the woman by honking his horn and flashing his lights.  He immediately got off his motorcycle and ran toward the woman grabbing her arm and keeping her from jumping into the traffic below. 

It was later learned that the woman had lost her husband and had jumped out of a moving vehicle minutes before Deputy Baker came upon her.  After saving her life, Deputy Baker released her to the California Highway Patrol so she could get the help she needed. 

Deputy Baker was awarded the Medal for Lifesaving for his actions that day.

LAKE FOREST, Ca. (Sept. 8, 2020) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 11, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Lake Forest. DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with deputies checking drivers for proper licensing.

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STANTON, Ca. (Sept. 4, 2020) – The Sheriff’s Department will take part in a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation aimed at educating bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians on traffic laws, rules and responsibilities.

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On June 30, 2019 at 8:20 p.m., Deputies at the Central Men’s Jail received a call of an inmate down. 

Deputies Franco, Miller, Schoeman and White entered the dormitory and located the inmate lying lifeless on his bunk.  The deputies moved the inmate to the floor and immediately began CPR. While performing CPR they noticed the inmate was exhibiting signs and symptoms of an opioid overdose, so they administered two doses of Naloxone.  After nearly 15 minutes of CPR, the inmate regained a pulse and started breathing.

He was taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

The deputies were awarded the Medal for Lifesaving for their actions that day.

On January 27, 2019 at about midnight, Deputies Fletcher, Giroux and Medina were dispatched to a possible house fire in Northeast Orange County.

Upon arrival the deputies immediately ran to the front door and started banging on it.  The door was ajar, and Deputy Medina began making announcements inside the residence for everyone to evacuate.  The deputies then made entry into the smoke-filled home to search for potential victims.  As the smoke thickened and the flames continued to spread, they located a 76-year-old man asleep in his bed. They immediately and safely evacuated the homeowner and determined he was the only one in the residence.

Each deputy received the Medal for Lifesaving for their actions that day.

SAN CLEMENTE, Ca. (Sept. 2, 2020) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 4, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of San Clemente. DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with deputies checking drivers for proper licensing.

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On April 24, 2019 just before 1 a.m., Deputy Dean and her partner were dispatched to Anaheim reference a person not breathing.  Upon arrival, they discovered an elderly man lying on the bedroom floor.  The man was not breathing and did not have a pulse. 

The victim’s son told Deputy Dean that his father was on a continuous CPAP machine and that CPR had not been started. Deputy Dean and her partner immediately began CPR.  

After approximately 15 cycles of CPR, the Garden Grove Fire Department arrived and took over compressions. The victim was transported to Western Anaheim Medical Center for further treatment.  Doctors later determined the patient had a heart attack and was still alive due to Deputy Dean’s actions.

Deputy Dean was awarded the Medal for Lifesaving for her heroic actions that day.