Sheriff Robert Luna presented medals to deputies of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) including two retired SCV personnel for their “courageous acts” during the active shooting incident at Saugus High School at the 2023 Medal of Valor Awards. 

The annual Valor Awards Ceremony saw Sheriff Luna awarding the “highest honors” to the deputies of the LASD alongside retired Detective Dan Finn and Sergeant James Callahan recognizing their unflinching actions during the active shooting incident at Saugus High School in 2019. 

“As controversies that [have] happened around the country about police officers either reluctant or unwilling to run into a school when kids are being murdered,” said Sheriff Luna. “Based on what I heard today and what I know about us, that would never, ever happen here, ever.”

Sheriff Luna chose to go off script after having the “privilege” to stand among “giants.”

The Medal of Valor Awards are awarded annually to Department members and other individuals who perform “acts of great bravery or heroism.” The awards symbolize the deputies going above and beyond the call of duty, placing their own lives at risk, according to the LASD. 

What was the Saugus High School Shooting?

On Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, 14-year-old Dominic Blackwell and 15-year-old Gracie Muehlberger were shot and killed by another student before his own death in a tragic event that also injured three others.

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