On May 24th, 2016

CSLEA Members Receive CDPH's "Beyond the Call of Duty" Award  Part of San Bernardino Responders Team   

SACRAMENTO- Two California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) members have received a special award from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) for their roles in CDPH's response to the terrorist attack in San Bernardino last December. The terrorist killed 14 people and injured 21 at a San Bernardino environmental health department training and holiday party.

"At the time, we were Emergency Preparedness Duty Officers," said CSLEA Member and Award Recipient Jerry Fuhrman. "We were in communication with the Public Health Department on a daily basis, responding to situation reports, replying to resource requests through Office of Emergency Services, then to CDPH, and eventually sending CDPH staff to assist San Bernardino County."

Fuhrman and CSLEA Member Jean Paradis were presented with a "Beyond the Call of Duty" award on April 7, 2016 during CDPH's PHAME (Public Health Acknowledging My Efforts) awards ceremony.

Immediately following the December 2, 2015 terrorist attack, CDPH stepped up to assist San Bernardino County at the county's request. Some CDPH employees were responsible for facilitating deployment, while others were actually deployed. Deployed CDPH staff helped with San Bernardino County's environmental health workload for weeks.

Emergency Preparedness Duty Officers participated in conference calls with Cal OES, reported situations to executive management, participated in executive planning meetings for resource requests, and coordinated deployment.

"What happened in San Bernardino December 2nd was nothing short of horrific," said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. "While some sat glued to their television sets or the internet, some CSLEA members immediately jumped into or were called to action. None of them ever think about awards that may follow, they just do what they are trained to do. To protect and serve and to coordinate emergency response."