Meet the heroic state workers who rescued drowning victims, shielded kids from gunfire
On a sunny day in August 2024, transportation department employees Anthony Coscia and Tobin Hook were waiting to start a meeting along State Route 1 to discuss the replacement of the Scott Creek bridge in Santa Cruz County when a woman ran up to their group in distress.
Someone had been swept into the ocean at the nearby Scott Creek Beach, the woman told them.
Coscia and Hook jumped into action, quickly descending the rough terrain to the beach where they spotted a body bobbing in the water. Without flinching, the two plunged into the waves to rescue the woman.
“She was out there, we were on shore, we needed to go out there and get her to shore,” said Coscia. “It just seemed rudimentary on what was required, and Tobin and I were the only ones there to do it.”
They swam a couple of hundred yards to reach the unresponsive woman, Hook estimated, through powerful waves. Cold and exhausted from the long swim, the two managed to get her back on shore where others began life-saving measures.
“Despite their heroic efforts, the woman, tragically, did not survive. Though the outcome was heartbreaking, they risked everything in their power to save a life,” California State Transportation Agency Secretary Toks Omishakin said during a Friday ceremony honoring the men’s actions.
Coscia and Hook were two of the 36 individuals recognized on Friday at the state’s annual State Employee Medal of Valor Ceremony for taking courageous action in life-or-death situations.
State workers from six departments were bestowed with California’s highest honor for public employees who have performed daring rescues in extreme conditions, including floods, wildfires and active shooter incidents. In California’s history, about 850 state employees have received this award.
“You are truly the 0.001% of the finest, most honorable, most heroic state employees that there are,” California Highway Patrol Deputy Commissioner Ezery Beauchamp said of Friday’s honorees.
Family members, friends and at least one person saved by honorees were in attendance.
“We are celebrating the legacy of courage that reaches into every corner of the state,” said Nick Maduros, the Government Operations secretary, in his opening remarks. “Today’s honorees remind us that true greatness is not measured by what we do when life is easy, it’s measured by how we respond when lives are on the line.”
Saving a wildfire burn victim
Department leaders shared the heroic stories of the recipients, which included rescuing victims from wildfires and car accidents, shielding children from gunfire and pulling people from freezing water.
While responding to several wildfires northeast of Santa Maria along Highway 166 last August, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Chad Fleming came across a man engulfed in flames.
Acting quickly, Fleming extinguished the flames and radioed for help and provided GPS coordinates to bring emergency responders to the scene as fast as possible. While waiting for help to arrive, Fleming treated the burn victim and administered oxygen. He also coordinated emergency air transport for the victim.
Despite unpredictable fire conditions, Fleming was able to rescue the man, who was transported to a hospital and treated for third-degree burns.
Acting with composure while under fire
The majority of the recipients work for California public safety departments, but John Shipley, an attorney with the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, was honored for actions he took while off the job. Maduros joked that Shipley was the first lawyer he had seen win the award.
In April 2025, Shipley was coaching a youth baseball game in Davis when shots rang out from the direction of a nearby park. Chaos broke out, but Shipley remained calm.
“Without hesitation, he acted decisively to protect his players. Moving quickly and calmly, he guided his young athletes off the open field and into the dugout for cover-up,” Maduros said, describing the scene. “He then sprinted to the fence and secured the gate to prevent anyone from entering.”
The CalSTRS attorney’s actions showed courage and selflessness in the face of uncertainty and potential danger, Maduros said.
A dangerous highway rescue
Correctional Officer Sandra Mendonca was driving on Interstate 80 in October 2024 when she came across a horrific crash where a driver had collided with a center divider. The officer immediately stopped to assist a young woman inside the car.
Mendonca pried open the damaged car door, pulled the woman out and carried the injured victim across active lanes of traffic to safety.
“With remarkable composure, Officer Mendonca administered tactical first aid, separately stopped the bleeding and stabilized the woman’s injuries,” California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Secretary Jeff Macomber said, awarding the officer with a Medal of Valor.
In a video message played during the ceremony, Gov. Gavin Newsom said of the honorees: “They’re heroes because of who they are, because the same instincts that drew them to public service are the same instincts that drove them headlong into danger.”
