Posted by: Media Relations
On Monday Septempber 29, 2014, Sheriff Mike Boudreaux will recognize the work done by citizens in Tulare County who have gone above and beyond expectation. In a ceremony in the lobby of Sheriff’s Headquarters at 3:30 PM, Sheriff Boudreaux and members of his staff will present the STAR award, which stands for Sheriff of Tulare Action Recognition, to Larry Wilkinson and Steve and Rinda Day.
Please read below about the actions these individuals took that brought them to the attention of the Sheriff’s Department.
On 01/06/14 around 1:26 p.m., Larry Wilkinson from Springville was driving by 21599 Avenue 112, Porterville. At that time, a citizen flagged him down and told him there was a man in the orchard who was suffering from gunshot wound to the abdomen. Mr. Wilkinson called 911 and provided first aid until emergency personnel arrived and took over.
On 07/04/14 around 0800 a.m., Deputies from the Tulare County Sheriff's Department were dispatched to a Medical Aid Search & Rescue in a remote area of the Golden Trout Wilderness near the Little Kern Bridge. The area is not accessible by vehicle and lacks the terrain to safely land a rescue aircraft, making it only accessible by foot.
A family group of hikers camped at the Little Kern Bridge had become ill and were unable to hike back to their vehicle located at the Lewis Camp Trail Head. The family group consisted of three adults who were in good health, and four children who were too ill to walk. The children's ages ranged from 12-17 years old.
Steve and Rinda Day, of Terra Bella own a pack station about 6 miles from the location of the family. They chose to set aside their business operation, saddled seven of their horses and packed in the Deputies and a Paramedic to locate and provide immediate assistance to the ill children. The Days and the Paramedic then transported the children by horseback to their vehicle and a waiting ambulance while Deputies escorted the adults on foot. Upon getting the children to safety, the Days returned with your horses, picked up the Deputies and adults, also returning them to the pack station by horseback.
The men and women of the Tulare County Sheriff's Department wanted to formally thank these citizens for taking risks putting personal needs aside to help a citizen in need. Please join us as we do so for the ceremony on Monday, to be held at 3:30 PM.