An officer's quick actions to save a boy highlighted at Lodi PD awards ceremony

Apr. 19—On Feb. 8, 2023, Lodi Police Department Officer Dustin Vang was dispatched to an attempted suicide in an apartment on the 400 block of W. Locust Street.

Upon arrival, Vang found a boy on the apartment's living room floor suffering from multiple self-inflicted stab wounds, to his neck, arms, legs and abdomen.

He was short of breath and losing a significant amount of blood.

Vang placed a tourniquet on the boy and performed chest compression to keep him alive until Lodi Fire Department and AMR crews arrived to take him to San Joaquin General Hospital for further advanced care.

For his efforts to save the boy's life, Vang was awarded the department's Lifesaving Award at its annual awards ceremony Thursday afternoon at Carnegie Forum.

"Officer Vang's extensive medical knowledge, quick reactions, and application of care to the young male likely saved his life," Lodi Police Chief Rick Garcia said. "Dustin, thank you for your quick actions that day and for representing the department and the law enforcement profession so well."

Vang, who has been with the department for more than a year, said it was days like Thursday that remind him he and his colleagues are here to do more than just enforce the law, but make an impact on the community.

Calls like this are a reminder that we all have bad days," he said. "I'm thankful for the officers who were on scene with me, the dispatchers, the crew from AMR and medical staff. Because truly, this call would not have been as successful without everyone's help. It just goes to show this is a team effort.

Officer Juan Ortega was nominated for Officer of the Year primarily for his fantastic work ethic, Garcia said.

Ortega, who was unable to attend Thursday's ceremony, works patrol, is a field evidence technician and a SWAT member, and made 138 arrests in 2023, the third-highest in the department.

He also made more than 25 DUI arrests last year and qualified for the M.A.D.D. award for the

second year in a row.

"Officer Ortega is admired by his supervisors and co-workers alike," Garcia said. "He is described as eager to learn, a team player, humble, hard-working, and has a great attitude. He is an absolute asset to his shift; he is professional, responsible, a role model officer, and always has a smile."

Garcia said Ortega is always eager to help his shift, come to work early, or stay late. He also volunteers to work with investigations and to teach the department's Spanish Academy, where he uses his fluency in Spanish to help bridge the gap between the police department and the Spanish-speaking community.

"The department often struggles with a lack of interest in this assignment due to the amount of work it adds with no monetary incentive," Garcia said. "However, Officer Ortega excels at this and always looks at it as an opportunity to learn. Often, as the (field evidence technician,) he would stay well after other patrol officers left the scene to collect large amounts of evidence and photos."

Ortega also received the Local DUI Award along with Officer Gerardo Ramirez.

Other award recipients included Officer Erik Daniel, who was given the 10851 award for his efforts to recover stolen vehicles and make arrests; Dispatch Supervisor Tenneille Ramirez, who was named Employee of the Year; Officer Kristina Deanda, who won the Meritorious Service Award; and Chaplain Amber Leonardini, who received the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Community Service Officers Gage Canestrino, Alexis Ceja, Alexis Luna and Melisa Magana were all awarded the Unit Citation; and the City of Lodi's Human Resources Department received the Chief of Police Service Award.

Parent Yadina Pena was also honored Thursday, receiving the Citizen Service Award for her efforts to help Heritage Elementary School students walk to campus safely.