2024 So. Cal. Hospital Security Officers of the Year

Officers Jeffrey Hester, Alejandro Lopez, Jose Lopez, Heather Sanchez, Saira Sanchez, Mike Yi, Jose Hernandez, and Ricardo Rodriguez, UCLA Health – Westwood

“On Thursday, August 8, 2024, at approximately 1714 hours, Security Dispatch informed Security Supervisors Ricardo Rodriguez and myself, Jose Hernandez, Security Supervisor, of an active police pursuit occurring outside the outpatient medical office building, Medical Plaza 200 (MP 200). The pursuit involved an armed suspect who had evaded law enforcement for over 30 years. Ricardo and I, unsure of what to expect given the gravity of the situation, cleared the security office and responded immediately without hesitation. Upon arrival we positioned ourselves by the vehicle drop-off turn-around outside MP 200. The situation escalated quickly with a large police presence and media helicopters circling the surrounding area, making it difficult to maintain clear communication due to the noise. The loud helicopter activity hindered my ability to hear radio transmissions properly, impacting our response and coordination during the incident. Given the potential risk posed by the armed suspect and the fact that many patients and employees were trying to leave the outpatient clinics (Medical Plaza buildings 100, 200, and 300), I issued the order for the Security Officers on scene to lock down the entrances to all the buildings. This ensured that no one could enter or exit until further notice to protect the safety of everyone.”