Officer

California Highway Patrol

1/10/2005

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Highway Patrol Officer David Kajiwara on January 10, 2005, performed an act of heroism at risk to his personal safety in the rescue attempts of numerous individuals trapped by a major landslide in the community of La Conchita. Officer Kajiwara became aware of a major landslide in the beach community of La Conchita. Officer Kajiwara, without hesitation and fully aware of the dangers of an additional landslide, responded on Ventura County Fire unit 155 to Zelzah Avenue, arriving several minutes after the landslide occurred. Officer Kajiwara immediately became aware of additional extreme hazards in the area when he smelled natural gas and saw downed high voltage power lines. Additionally, timbers from the destroyed homes could be heard cracking and he could see mud flowing down Zelzah Avenue. Officer Kajiwara heard the screams of trapped women in the rubble of what appeared to be several collapsed residences, which were on top of each other. Realizing it would be some time before enough debris could be moved to reach the trapped women; Officer Kajiwara elected to allow the firemen to begin digging toward the women. Believing there might be additional persons trapped and ignoring the apparent danger. Officer Kajiwara searched the interiors of two badly damaged homes. Officer Kajiwara attempted to enter a third destroyed home, but it was too badly crushed to find an entry point. When he was satisfied there were no additional victims trapped, Officer Kajiwara returned to assist the firemen with the trapped women. Officer Kajiwara continued assisting Engine 1545 digging feverously with only his hands. After removing a great amount of dirt and debris, the rescuers were eventually successful in freeing one of the women. Officer Kajiwara continued his rescue attempts for the second woman until appeared that the rescuers might cause the whole unstable building to fall on the trapped victim. The second woman was eventually rescued after heavy equipment and specialized urban search and rescue equipment arrived hours later. Officer Kajiwara remained on scene for several hours assisting until the arrival of trained rescue personnel allowed Officer Kajiwara to be replaced.