Full Notification

Two El Segundo Police Officers will be recognized this year by the South Bay Police and Fire Memorial Foundation for their brave and/or outstanding service each officer displayed during critical incidents:

Officer Jeff Darringer - Medal of Valor Award

On January 18, 2017, ESPD Officers responded to multiple calls of a man threatening people with an axe. The suspect drove away and was being pursued by Ofc. Darringer. The suspect’s erratic driving prompted him to complete a legal intervention maneuver. The suspect’s SUV spun around and came to rest side by side with Ofc. Darringer’s police car, trapping him inside. The suspect exited his vehicle, stepped onto the hood of Ofc. Darringer’s car and raised the hatchet as if he were going to strike Ofc. Darringer through his windshield. Realizing the significant danger he was in, Ofc. Darringer defensively fired several rounds through his windshield from the seated position of his police car and the suspect was fatally wounded.


Sgt. Tony de la Rambelje - Distinguished Service Award

On November 14, 2017, El Segundo Police Department Sgt. Tony de la Rambelje and several officers were dispatched to a residence regarding an Assault with a Deadly Weapon call. A man went to visit a friend and when he arrived he found him covered with blood and uncooperative.

Sgt. de la Rambelje and other officers opened the door and immediately saw a shirtless man approximately 10 feet away holding two knives in a threatening manner while bleeding profusely from several apparent self-inflicted cuts to his body and throat. A large amount of blood was on the hallway floor and pouring from the man’s body. The man was highly agitated and would not obey officers’ orders to put the knives down.

Sgt de la Rambelje quickly took command of the incident and began formulating a plan to address the highly volatile situation. He utilized his skills as a Crisis Negotiations Team leader to begin an empathetic dialogue with the disturbed individual. He effectively communicated with the distraught man, after approximately 20 minutes of listening and conversing with the individual, Sgt de la Rambelje convinced him to put the knives down and come out so he could receive help.

After the man surrendered, Sgt. de la Rambelje showed compassion and empathy for the man by granting his wishes for water and a blanket to cover his wounds so his mother would not see them. Paramedics transported the man to the hospital where he underwent surgery due to the depth and severity of the lacerations.

Sgt de la Rambelje used outstanding verbal skills, empathetic listening, and rapport building to de-escalate the situation and potentially save the man’s life.