Colton Officers Receive Lifesaving Medal

Earlier this month, four police officers were recognized by the Colton City Council and by Colton Police Chief Steve Ward with the Lifesaving Medal during a regular City Council Meeting. The recipients, Sergeant Steve Davis, Corporal Gary Gruenzner, Officer Greg Castillo and Officer Mike Collins, all received the award to honor their actions as a result of the actions that wounded corrections officer Tom Dennie, who works at the California Institute for Men in Chino, on May 2 of this year. Officer Dennie with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) on May 2 was on his way to work at Chino Institute for Men when he stopped at the Iowa Shell in Colton to put gas in his vehicle. Two gang members confronted Officer Dennie and attempted to rob him. When Dennie attempted to escape, he was shot by one of the suspects, and the suspects then fled the area in their vehicle. Officer Greg Castillo, Sergeant Steve Davis and Officer Mike Collins were the first three to arrive on scene after hearing the shooting call broadcast over the radio. The responding officers saw the severity of Dennie’s wound and devised a plan to quickly transport him to the nearest hospital themselves. Officers Castillo and Collins hoisted Officer Dennie into the backseat of Sgt. Davis’s police unit; with Officer Collins in the backseat to watch over Officer Dennie, Sgt. Davis transported him to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), with Officer Castillo providing an escort. Corporal Gary Gruenzner was assigned to work at ARMC and alerted the emergency room staff of the incoming wounded law enforcement officer. A full team of medical staff was assembled and waiting outside the hospital when Officer Dennie arrived. “The quick response and immediate actions on the part of the officers and medical staff are credited with saving Tom Dennie’s life,” said Police Chief Steve Ward in a written statement. The suspects responsible for the crime were apprehended within minutes of the shooting by officers with the Riverside Police Department. They are incarcerated and awaiting trial on attempted murder charges, according to a written statement issued by Chief Ward. [END] NEWS RELEASE COLTON POLICE DEPARTMENT 650 North La Cadena Drive, Colton, CA 92324 909.370.5000 / 909.370.5158 Fax Steve Ward, Chief of Police FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Four Police Officers to Receive Lifesaving Medal Date: September 3rd, 2013 Time: 6:00 PM Location: City Council Chambers 650 N. La Cadena, Colton CA 92324 Chief of Police and City Council are going to present four Colton Police Officers with The Lifesaving Medal The City of Colton Police Department wants to invite all media personnel to help us honor and congratulate four Colton Police Officers who are going to be awarded the police department’s lifesaving medal. The ceremony is going to take place at the Colton City Council meeting on September 3rd at 6:00 PM. This is the first item on the agenda and will be following the Colton Police Department’s Honor Guard presentation of colors and Pledge of Allegiance. Immediately following the presentation of medals ceremony, there will be refreshments and photographs in the police department’s briefing room. I have attached a synopsis below briefly describing the circumstances of the event that happened on May 2nd of this year, and the actions these officers took to save Officer Tom Dennie’s life. As always, if there are any questions or concerns please give me a call, we would appreciate any media coverage as these heroes certainly deserve it. -Synopsis of Event- On May 2, 2013, Tom Dennie, an officer with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), was on his way to work at Chino Institute for Men, when he stopped at the Iowa Shell in Colton to put gas in his vehicle. While pumping gas, Tom was confronted by two gang members who attempted to rob him. Tom tried to escape the confrontation but was shot by one of the suspects, who then fled the area in their vehicle. After the shooting call was broadcast over the radio, Officer Greg Castillo, Sergeant Steve Davis and Officer Mike Collins were the first three to arrive on scene. Recognizing the severity of Tom Dennie’s wound, and time being of the essence, Davis, Castillo and Collins quickly devised a plan to transport him to the hospital themselves. Sgt. Davis pulled his police unit alongside Tom, while Castillo and Collins lifted him into the backseat. Officer Collins stayed in the backseat with the Tom while Sgt. Davis drove with lights and siren to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC), with Officer Castillo providing an escort. In the mean time, Corporal Gary Gruenzner, who was assigned to work at ARMC, alerted the emergency room staff of the incoming wounded law enforcement officer. This triggered a unique response in which a full team of medical staff was assembled and waiting outside the hospital when Tom arrived. The quick response and immediate actions on the part of the officers and medical staff are credited with saving Tom Dennie’s life. The suspects responsible for this heinous crime were apprehended within minutes of the shooting by Riverside PD officers. They are incarcerated and awaiting trial on attempted murder charges. 9.I. Presentation - Life Saving Medals to Colton Police Personnel: Sgt. Steve Davis Corporal Gary Gruenzner Officer Greg Castillo Officer Mike Collins