By Kaelyn Floyd
Photos by Douglas Morrison
On Wednesday, August 2, 2023, six deserving individuals from the County of Los Angeles Fire Department’s (LACoFD) Lifeguard Division were recognized at the annual Lifeguard Medal of Valor Dinner for their extraordinary acts of heroism and remarkable service.
This ceremonial dinner was held at the King Harbor Yacht Club in Redondo Beach which officially kicked-off the International Surf Festival.
Each year, active and retired Lifeguard personnel are honored with the Medal of Valor, Distinguished Service, and Lifetime Achievement Awards.
County of Los Angeles Second District Supervisor Holly Mitchell and LACoFD Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone were joined by local City dignitaries, Department personnel, retirees, family, and friends to celebrate the following deserving award recipients.
The prestigious Medal of Valor, the highest honor, was presented to Lifeguard Captain Gevorg Akopyan and Ocean Lifeguard Specialist (OLS) Sam O’Hare for two separate life-saving rescues:
Captain Akopyan was out for his daily run on the beach near Santa Monica Tower 22 on February 7, 2023, when he recognized a female beach goer from several past rescues. Things soon took a turn for the worse. He witnessed the woman charge a mother walking with her two-year-old son, grab the toddler, and attempt to get away with him in her arms. Captain Akopyan ran over, safely secured the toddler, and detained the woman as Lifeguard Captain Spencer Parker arrived on scene to assist as they waited for the Santa Monica Police Department.
On the night of March 4, 2023, OLS O’Hare quickly reacted when he heard gun shots while on duty, just a few yards away from his tower, at Royal Palms Beach in San Pedro. He ran to the parking lot where he found four individuals suffering from gunshot wounds, called for law enforcement and additional medical personnel, and triaged the patients while simultaneously directing bystanders for their own safety.
Both Captain Akopyan and OLS O’Hare have earned the Medal of Valor award for their selfless acts, quick thinking, and life-saving skills.
Three Ocean Lifeguards (OL), Sydney Brouwer, John Pearce, and Erin Swift, were each awarded the Distinguished Service Award for a cardiac arrest rescue on May 28, 2023, at the City of Hermosa Beach’s annual Fiesta Hermosa celebration. The team initially received a call for a choking victim. Upon arrival, they found a patient in cardiac arrest, with bystanders performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). OLs Brouwer, Pearce, and Swift calmly took over CPR and used the AED to stabilize the patient until paramedics arrived.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Award honoree, retired Chief Lifeguard Steve Moseley, was recognized for his remarkable achievements during his 36-year career. Chief Moseley completed a remarkable 36-year career with our Lifeguard Division. He worked every beach along the LA County coastline, working as an Ocean Lifeguard, Ocean Lifeguard Specialist, Ocean Lifeguard Captain, Lifeguard Section Chief, and finally as the Chief Lifeguard. He also served as our Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association’s (LACOLA) President and Head of our Lifeguard Training Academy for nine years.
Congratulations to each of the 2023 Lifeguard Medal of Valor honorees!
