California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

4/18/2015

Special Service Award (Silver)

On April 18, 2015, at 1:50 a.m., Officer Brock Veillette and his partner Officer Andrew Lamar received a radio transmission from California Highway Patrol Dispatch of a traffic collision with reported injuries at the Williams Hill recreation area, in an unincorporated area of Monterey County. Upon their arrival at 3:23 a.m., Officer Veillette and his partner were unable to see any victims, but could hear cries for help down the hillside. At great risk to their own safety, Officer Veillette and his partner decided to descend the hillside through the darkness to assess and treat the injured victims. Both officers slid down the steep hillside headfirst on their stomachs through areas that, if not navigated correctly, could have resulted in serious injury or death to both officers. During their descent, the officers were unable to continuously hold their flashlights because their hands were occupied with balancing themselves or grabbing onto objects they could utilize to prevent them from sliding uncontrollably down the hillside. During the officers’ descent, Coastal Division Helicopter 70 arrived on scene and assisted them with locating the injured victims. Approximately 50 feet down the hillside from the roadway, Officer Veillette encountered one deceased passenger from the vehicle. Approximately 250 feet further down the hillside, Officer Veillette encountered a passenger who sustained major injuries to his leg and head. As Officer Veillette continued down the steep hillside, he sustained abrasions to his forearms from crawling through the brush in the prone position. Approximately 25 feet further down the hillside from the injured passenger, Officer Veillette located two more people, who were suffering from major spine and head trauma. Cal-Fire Paramedic David Sutherland arrived at Officer Veillette’s location and took over patient care of the two.

Officer Veillette could hear a faint call for help further down the hillside. Officer Veillette crawled for approximately 75 feet and located yet another person, who was suffering from head and spinal trauma. Officer Veillette began treatment, and was assisted by American Medical Response Paramedic Chris Otherson. Officer Veillette, Officer Lamar, Paramedic Otherson, and Paramedic Sutherland remained with the four patients for an additional four hours until Mercy Air Helicopter 20 and Coastal Division Helicopter 70 returned to evacuate the injured parties. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Veillette’s heroic service helped to save the lives of four traffic collision victims trapped on a steep hillside. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Silver Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer Brock Veillette.