TUSTIN : Officers Honored for Rescue, Civic Work

Police Sgt. Michael A. Shanahan has been presented with the Medal of Merit--the second highest award issued by the Tustin Police Department--for his rescue of an injured motorcyclist.

The rescue occurred in February on the southbound Costa Mesa after a motorcyclist had been pinned under a car in a collision. Bystanders had attempted to lift the car off the victim’s chest, but the effort was halted by Shanahan when he realized it was increasing the man’s injuries.

Shanahan used a jack to lift the vehicle, then crawled under the car and freed the man. Shanahan then administered first aid until paramedics arrived.

Tustin Police Chief W. Douglas Franks said, “It is highly probable that the injured motorist would have incurred more serious injuries and possibly died,” if it were not for Shanahan’s actions. Shanahan was honored last weekend at the department’s annual awards ceremony.

Also honored at the awards ceremony was Officer Michael S. Velko. He received the inaugural Chief’s Award of Excellence for his promotion of community-based policing.

Velko’s accomplishments include helping organize an apartment managers association, leading children in a neighborhood cleanup, working with community groups, and helping create a coloring book for grade school students that has an anti-gang and anti-drug message.

“He’s done quite a bit,” Franks said, “and a lot of it on his own time.”