Los Santos County Sheriff's Department "A TRADITION OF SERVICE" News Release April 16th, 2025 |
- LSSD Honors Four Deputies with Meritorious Conduct Gold Medal for Heroic Acts of Valor
- Blaine County: The Los Santos Sheriff's Department is proud to announce that four of its deputies will be honored with the Meritorious Conduct Gold Medal, the Department’s third-highest award. This prestigious recognition is reserved for individuals who demonstrate extraordinary courage by placing themselves in immediate peril to perform acts of heroism and/or save the lives of others. The medal symbolizes the highest ideals of service and sacrifice, reflecting the deputies' unwavering commitment to protecting and serving the community with valor and selflessness.
Meritorious Conduct Gold Medal
For multiple hours, Master Deputy Behr and Deputy Chapple endured relentless drive-by attacks, ambushes, and targeted assaults while retrieving injured colleagues. Stationed in a vulnerable vehicle with compromised tires, they flawlessly executed defensive maneuvers while returning fire against overwhelming odds. Their calm under pressure and tactical precision ensured the survival of their team during no less than six separate life-threatening engagements, including a harrowing ambush near Pillbox Hospital where their intervention prevented further casualties.
Deputy Ava Behr Deputy Dylan Chapple Deputy Vince Taylor Deputy Thomas Lugo
Deputy Taylor, airborne in an LSSD helicopter, identified two critically pinned-down PD officers trapped on the rooftop of a construction site near impound. Surrounded by hostile forces and under relentless gunfire, the officers had no viable escape route. With precise coordination, Deputy Taylor executed a high-risk hot extraction, landing under fire to evacuate both officers. His actions not only saved their lives but allowed them to rejoin the fight, turning the tide of the engagement.
Armed only with standard-issue equipment, Deputy Lugo selflessly inserted himself into active combat zones to rescue wounded deputies and secure critical scenes. After assisting in the neutralization of suspects at the Garment Factory, he evacuated an injured Deputy Taylor under fire, delivered him to Pillbox, and immediately returned to the battlefield. His actions ensured the safe extraction of multiple officers during the chaotic withdrawal from the factory, all while facing superior firepower with unwavering resolve.
Undersheriff John Wallace, Head of Administration:The events of that night tested the limits of courage and teamwork. From the skies to the streets, these deputies embodied the Sheriff’s Department’s highest principles. Their actions not only saved lives but prevented a volatile situation from escalating further, ensuring the safety of both officers and civilians across Los Santos. I am extremely proud of these individuals, they are without a doubt living and breathing proof of the Sheriffs Department's principles and excellent training.###For Information, Contact:
Deputy Sheriff III Tim Sutton
Senior Communications Relations Deputy, Sheriff's Information Division
Los Santos County Sheriff's Department
Sheriff's Information Division
Los Santos County Sheriff's Department
Procopio Promenade 1, Paleto Bay
Los Santos, SA, 909
