Honoring Heroism

For extreme acts of bravery and heroism in the face of grave danger, for staying calm amid chaos and for saving lives, 18 personnel from the UC Santa Barbara Police Department earned special recognition for their efforts during and after the Isla Vista tragedy of May 23, 2014.

The Public Safety Awards, a joint ceremony of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the UCSB Police Department (UCPD), honored all first responders to those events — and singled out several for their exceptional contributions.

“It is my pleasure to honor and be able to present you with some of the most courageous public safety professionals at the UCPD,” Chief Dustin Olson said in presenting the awards. “U.S. General Omar Bradley once said that bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to dealth. The public safety professionals we honor today exemplify this quote, and exceeded expections on the night of May 23, 2014.”

Police Valor Citations were awarded to UCSB Police Sergeant Daniel Wilson, Corporal Gregory Pierce, Corporal Bradly Prows, Corporal Jeffery Lupo and Officer Tyler Oldread.

Public Safety Meritorious Service Citations were awarded to UCSB Police Sergeant Matthew Bly, Officer Daniel Crawford, Officer Michael Little and Officer Robert Rogers. Sergeant Antonio Borrayo, who passed away in January 2015, was awarded posthumously.

The Public Safety Exceptional Service award was presented to UCSB Police Department Public Safety Dispatchers Lindsay Straub and John Blake-Lobb.

The Public Safety Meritorious Unit Citation was awarded to UCSB PD Sergeant Robert Romero, Sergeant Ryan Smith, Detective Greg Smorodinsky, Sergeant Rory Sheehy, Corporal Matthew Stern and Officer Darren Miller.

The UCSB PD and the Sherrif's Office together created a special Isla Vista 2014 Incident Commendation that was awarded to all personnel involved in the response.

With a moment of silence and an urging to “let us never forget,” the occasion also paid tribute to the six victims who were killed on that day.