04/29/2025
CALIFORNIA YOUTH AND 9-1-1 DISPATCHERS HONORED at
STATEWIDE 9-1-1 HEROES BY GLOBAL ENTREPRENEUR
KATHY IRELAND & STATE DIGNITARIES at the CAPITOL in SACRAMENTO
Three local youngsters and 9-1-1 public safety dispatchers from throughout the
State will be honored and recognized as Statewide 9-1-1 Heroes by Global
Entrepreneur, Lifestyle Designer, Author, and Philanthropist Kathy Ireland, State
Dignitaries, and Local 9-1-1 Officials at the 2025 California State 9-1-1
Heroes Awards Ceremony & Press Conference presented by 9-1-1 for Kids®
on Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. on the West Steps of The Capitol.
The 9-1-1 Heroes Medal of Honor® is awarded to individuals who demonstrate
exceptional courage by calling 9-1-1 to save a life, protect property, or report a
crime. This award is equally important for recognizing the 9-1-1 dispatcher or
call-taker who processes the call and dispatches the appropriate emergency
response. Established in 1999 in collaboration with the California State
Legislature, the 9-1-1 Heroes Medal of Honor® has become an international
awards program.
9-1-1 for Kids® is the official voice of 9-1-1 caller training and endorsed by:
Association of Public Safety Communications Officials, Next Generation 9-1-1
Institute, National Emergency Number Association, National Association of
Nine-one-one Administrators and the California Department of Education.
VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Jackie Mudd, Hyatt Corporation
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
California Highway Patrol Community Outreach & Academy
9-1-1 FOR KIDS BOARD MEMBERS
Kathy Ireland – Global Ambassador, 9-1-1 for Kids
Katherine Brandenburg – Legislative Advocate, Brandenburg Group
Charlie Cullen – Immediate Past President, National Emergency Number Assn.
William (Billy) Zagger – President, B-Train Films
AWARD PRESENTER DIGNITARIES:
Chief Mike Alvarez – California Highway Patrol
Senator Jesse Arreguín – Senator, District 07
Bob Counts – Staff Chief of Fire Protection – Ops, CAL FIRE
President Karl Grover – Northern California Chapter of APCO (NAPCO)
Assemblymember Heather Hadwick – 1st Assembly District
David Schapira – Chief of Staff, California Department of Education
Assemblymember Nick Schultz – Assembly District 44
Assemblymember David Tangipa - 8th Assembly District
Paul Troxel – 9-1-1 Branch Director, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
PUBLIC SAFETY MASCOTS:
Chipper – CHP Mascot
Captain Cal – CAL FIRE
McGruff the Crime Dog
Red E. Fox™– 9-1-1 Mascot
Smokey the Bear
Sparky the Fire Dog
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2025 9-1-1 HEROES!
9-1-1 Youth Heroes:
Robert Cade Johnson (16-year-old from Redding, CA)
Ebrahaim Hazen (12-year-old from Davis, CA)
Aaron Nguyen (11-year-old from Castro Valley, CA)
9-1-1 Dispatch Heroes:
Lucia Guzman (Emergency Services Dispatcher, Alameda County Sheriff’s)
Kait Cole (Public Safety Dispatcher, Davis Police Dept)
Sarah Critchley (Public Safety Dispatcher, CHP Golden Gate Comm Ctr)
