Tree Maintenance Supervisor

Department of Transportation

7/2/2018

Special Service Award (Silver)

On July 2, 2018, at 4:30 p.m., California Department of Transportation Tree Maintenance Supervisor Michael (Mike) Quinliven was off duty when he found himself behind what he thought was a traffic collision. He stopped to help and quickly realized it was not a collision, but a murder scene. The shooting occurred just moments before he arrived, involving a father and son. With no idea whether the shooter was nearby, Mr. Quinliven immediately pulled them from the vehicle and began administering first aid. This was a very difficult task to perform, as both of them had multiple gunshot wounds to their heads and were severely bleeding. Despite the quick action and great efforts to resuscitate them, the father was pronounced deceased at the scene. The son survived transport to the hospital, due to the first aid administered by Mr. Quinliven, unfortunately, the son passed away several days later. The shooter had opened fire on the them, then fled the scene on foot, and was arrested the next morning. With no regard to his own safety, and not knowing whether the shooter was still around, Mr. Quinliven went above and beyond the call of duty and put himself in harm’s way to help save the father and son. The State of California takes great pride in presenting the Silver Medal of Valor to California Department of Transportation Tree Maintenance Supervisor Michael Quinliven.