Officer

California Highway Patrol

1/10/2005

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Highway Patrol Officer Matthew W. Winter 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 Matthew W. Winter was at the intersection of US 101 and Santa Barbara Avenue when he heard and saw a large landslide behind the community of La Conchita. The landslide appeared to envelop a small group of pedestrians who had been on Santa Barbara Avenue. The landslide also engulfed and destroyed approximately 15 homes, stopping approximately 100 yards from Officer Winter. Officer Winter, ignoring the danger, ran toward the landslide and encountered a confused male with a minor head laceration. Officer Winter instructed the unidentified male on how to slow the flow of blood and had him sit on the curb. Officer Winter continued toward the slide and encountered three more civilians one with a fractured leg. Officer Winter directed them toward an area that was accessible and visible to responding ambulances. Officer Winter was aware of an extreme hazard in the area when he smelled natural gas and could hear the high pitch hissing of gas escaping. Officer Winter crossed the unstable debris pile in an attempt to locate the gas leak. Officer Winter located the gas leak; however, the pipe was broken below ground level. Officer Winter persisted and eventually, with the assistance of a Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy and an unidentified civilian, was able to stop the flow of natural gas by plugging the pipe with a wooden stick. Officer Winter then entered a damaged and unstable home on Santa Barbra Avenue and began assisting a civilian who thought he could hear a woman screaming. Officer Winter worked by removing several layers of debris and eventually could see the arm of the woman who had been screaming for help. After being certain that a live victim that been found, Officer Winter worked with two other rescuers in gaining access to the victim. Officer Winter crawled through the rubble and debris, procured a door to be used as a makeshift backboard, and eventually removed the victim from the wreckage. Officer Winter remained on scene assisting victims until the arrival of trained rescue personnel allowed Officer Winter to be replaced.