Deputy

Other

8/21/2010

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

The Sheriff’s Aerial Support to Regional Enforcement Agencies (ASTREA) Copters 10 and 12 were en route to the Monte Fire, in an unincorporated area of Lakeside. The Sheriff’s Communication Center advised the patrol aircraft that two rock climbers, Meg Rippy and Andre Doria, were stranded on the side of a cliff, with a fast moving fire approaching them. Deputy Scott Bligh and Deputy Gary Kneeshaw immediately lifted off in a helicopter from base to assist in rescuing the climbers. With clearance from Cal Fire to fly at a low level, the deputies were guided by Deputy Walden (Copter 10) to the place where he had located Rippy and Doria. The crew rescued Rippy, but had to abort its rescue of Doria because of a steep drop off and winds. Deputy Kneeshaw stayed behind with Doria until the helicopter could return. Deputy Bligh returned and Deputy Kneeshaw, loading Doria into the front seat, realized that the flames were only 10 feet from the tail rotor and needed to act quickly. Deputy Kneeshaw immediately climbed onto the right skid and yelled to Deputy Bligh to lift off. Deputy Bligh flew the helicopter through and eventually out of the smoke and down to the valley floor with Deputy Kneeshaw standing unsecured on the skid for the entire flight. The entire rescue operation took only five minutes.