SBPD Detectives to Receive Award for Valor
The Santa Barbara Police Department is proud to announce that Detective Brian Miller and Detective Jeff DeForest will be receiving the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor on Wednesday, May 23, 2012 at 4:30 p.m. in the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisor’s Hearing Room, 4th Floor, County Administration Building, 105 East Anapamu Street. A press conference is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at the Arch of the County Courthouse, Anacapa Street entrance. All of this year’s recipients of the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor will be available for interviews and photos from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m.
The following is an excerpt from the Santa Barbara Citizens Council on Crime media release:
Detectives Brian Miller and Jeff DeForest, Santa Barbara Police Department
Detectives Miller and DeForest are being awarded the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor for their handling of an extremely dangerous situation of taking a violent fugitive into custody as he arrived in Santa Barbara by train. The suspect, who had prior law enforcement experience, had picked up his nine year old son on a regularly scheduled visit. He then proceeded to burn the family home to the ground and travel cross country with his son. The suspect was known to be armed. The Santa Barbara Police Department was advised by US Marshalls that the suspect and his son were on a train that would soon be passing through Santa Barbara. Detectives Miller and DeForest went to the train station along with other officers to try to apprehend the suspect. There was much confusion as to which of the 14 train cars the suspect and his son were on. Detectives Miller and DeForest had initially been told that the suspect was in the 14th car. They then got an update that he was in the 7th car. As they headed to the 7th car, Detective Miller caught a split second glimpse of the suspect through the doorway of the 9th car and was able to identify him. The detectives confronted the suspect as he came out of the restroom of the train car. Although the suspect began to fight with the detectives. Detectives Miller and DeForest were able to quickly take the dangerous fugitive into custody, thereby avoiding a possible hostage situation or other violent confrontation.
For their acts of bravery and professionalism in the apprehension of this dangerous felon, they will be awarded the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Valor.
Address/Location
Santa Barbara Police Department
215 E Figueroa St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 805-897-2300
Riley L. Harwood
Public Information Officer
rharwood@sbpd.com
805-897-2320