Lakeside Firefighters Receive Sheriff's "Distinguished Service Award"

MCAS Miramar, Bob Hope Theater-

Little did fire crews reporting to work on a September day know they would soon be involved in a shoot out between Sheriff Deputies and a suspect in the 12700 block of Mapleview Street. Deputies from the Santee Sheriff office had developed a lead that possible child abuse was occurring in a local apartment complex. Acting on that information the deputies attempted to make contact with the suspect. Soon shots rang out leaving both deputies injured from gunshot wounds. Deputies returned fire while seeking refuge from the continued gunfire.

A call for assistance was made which brought a response from law enforcement throughout San Diego County. Responding law enforcement officials continued to receive gunfire from the apartment. At the same time the Lakeside Fire Protection District received a call to respond to the incident for the injured officers. An engine company and medic unit responded from the River Park, and Lake Jennings fire stations.

San Diego Sheriff Bill Gore makes the award presentation to Captain-Paramedic John Hisaw, Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch, Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood, and Firefighter Paramedic Eric Stamm. Not present was Fire Engineer Rob Andrews.

Knowing that two deputies had suffered life threatening injuries a plan was put into action that would involve fire crews operating under the cover of law enforcement. Crews entered the complex and quickly located the two officers. They were removed to a safe area where advanced life support could be initiated. But it became obvious that both of these patients needed quick transport to the trauma center where definitive care could be initiated.

The most severely injured deputy was loaded into Medic 3 and quickly transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center. During the transport the patient received some of the most advanced trauma care allowed in San Diego County.

Calls for additional medic units brought two ALS units from the Santee Fire Department. The second deputy was loaded into an arriving medic unit and was also transported to Sharp Memorial Trauma Center.



As the crime scene was still unfolding the third medic unit staged in the area in anticipation that others may receive injuries. Later that medic unit would be utilized to transport the injured suspect to a local trauma center.

On May 8th, 2013, the San Diego Sheriff Department awarded the "Distinguished Service Award" to Fire Captain-Paramedic John Hisaw, Fire Engineer Rob Andrews, Firefighter-Paramedic Eric Stamm, Firefighter-Paramedic Jamie Hazlewood, and Firefighter-Paramedic Danny Leetch. The award ceremonies took place at MCAS Miramar in the Bob Hope Theater.

Submitted By: Fire Captain Mark Grow, Lakeside Fire Protection District