Full Notification

Each year the Santa Barbara Police Department has its officers submit nominations for Extra Step Awards. These awards are presented to citizens who display acts of civic heroism and devotion to their community. These acts include saving lives and aiding fellow citizens and police officers in the performance of their duties. The awards are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Barbara, which hosts a luncheon for the recipients where they are presented with a meritorious citation. The luncheon will be held at the Mesa Café at 1972 Cliff Drive on Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at noon. The media is invited to attend.

The following citizens will be receiving the 2016 Kiwanis & Santa Barbara Police Department’s Extra Step Award:

George Pappas, Christine Ramirez & William Julian

Mr. Pappas, Ms. Ramirez, and Mr. Julian, neighbors on the 400 block of Dibblee Avenue, rescued a woman who was being viciously attacked by three dogs, saving her life. They were nominated by Sergeant Todd Johnson.

Juan Carlos Solis

Mr. Solis is the loss prevention agent at Saks OFF 5th. In less than a year he apprehended over twenty-five theft, burglary, and robbery suspects, sometimes at risk to his own safety. He was nominated by Officer Kasi Corbett.

Gyselle Pantoja

Ms. Pantoja, age 14, responded to the sound of a woman screaming in an alley near the 1500 block of San Pascual Street to discover that a woman was being assaulted by her boyfriend. Demonstrating great courage Ms. Pantoja intervened, stopped the attack, and led the victim to safety. She was nominated by Officer Justin Cruz.

Linda Malhotra

Ms. Malhotra, the owner of the UPS Store at 315 Meigs Road, Suite A, discovered that an elderly customer was the victim of fraud and elder abuse. She intervened and prevented the victim from losing several thousand dollars to a scam. She was nominated by Sergeant Jill Beecher.

Gilbert Antonio Navarro

Mr. Navarro came upon a carjacking in progress on the 500 block of W. Pueblo Street involving two male suspects struggling to pull the female victim out of her car. Mr. Navarro, armed with a folding knife, intervened prompting one suspect to immediately flee and then fought with other suspect until he, too, ran away. He was nominated by Detective Douglas Klug.

Nathan Ogan

Mr. Ogan, while vacationing, was at East Beach when he noticed an unconscious boogie boarder face down in the water. Mr. Ogan pulled the victim to shore and performed rescue breathing until firefighters and paramedics arrived on scene, saving her life. He was nominated by Sergeant Jill Beecher.

LaShawndra Fenner-Lopez

Ms. Fenner-Lopez came upon an incident of domestic violence occurring in City Lot 10 involving a female victim being beaten by a male suspect. Ms. Fenner-Lopez physically intervened, pushing the suspect away and stopping the violence. She remained with the victim and comforted her until help arrived. She was nominated by Officer Mark Corbett.

Mark Copeland & Hadi Nassar

Mr. Copeland and Mr. Nassar were riding mopeds on the 700 block of Chapala Street when they came upon a suspect that had just stolen a purse and was fleeing the scene of the crime. Mr. Copeland and Mr. Nassar pursued the suspect, detaining him a block away. The suspect fought to escape, even biting Mr. Copeland, however Mr. Copeland and Mr. Nassar were able to restrain him until police arrived. They were nominated by Sergeant Jill Beecher.