Thompson Announces Sonoma County Public Safety Heroes of the Year
Washington – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-05) announced the recipients of the Fifth Congressional District's Public Safety Hero of the Year Award. Each year, Thompson honors law enforcement officers and first responders in our community who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. For Sonoma County, Lieutenant Shawn Murphy, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office and Sonoma County Fire District Chief Mark Heine have been selected.
"Our local public safety officers are some of our most vital community members, putting their lives on the line to keep us safe and often working overtime during emergencies, such as our recent fires," said Thompson. "I am humbled to once again present my Annual Public Safety Hero Award to the local law enforcement officers and first responders who demonstrate exceptional courage and dedication day in and day out. It is an incredible honor to represent so many dedicated and heroic public servants."
Each year, Thompson honors one local law enforcement officer and one local first responder from each county with the Public Safety Hero award.
Lieutenant Murphy was a constant source of support as he represented the Sheriff's Office at the Kincade Fire Unified Command Center, ensuring operations ran smoothly and helping to coordinate evacuation efforts. He often worked around the clock, not stopping his efforts.
Chief Heine is being recognized for his efforts to keep the Kincade Fire from advancing on Windsor and Larkfield, ensuring the safety of the city of Santa Rosa in the process. He helped to save lives of both community members and his fellow first responders.
"It is my honor to recognize Lieutenant Murphy and Chief Heine as our Public Safety Heroes for Sonoma County," said Thompson. "They have dedicated their lives to keeping our community safe and have gone above and beyond in their public service throughout their careers. We are proud to have such heroes in our community and thank them for their service."
In additions to the 11 honorees from each of the counties Thompson represents, Thompson also honored celebrity chefs Jose Andres and Tyler Florence with a special Public Safety Hero Award in honor of their work to provide meals and support during the recent fires.
The full list of the Public Safety Heroes of the Year for the Fifth Congressional District is below:
- Chief Dean Colombo, Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department
- Officer Jennifer Witschi and her K9 partner, Milo, Pinole Police Department
- Chief Neil Gang, Pinole Police Department
- Deputy Marc De La Torre, Lake County Sheriff's Office
- Chief Willie Sapeta, Lake County Fire Protection District
- Detective Garrett Smith, Napa Police Department
- Scott Rose, Napa Emergency Services
- Officer John Ehman, Vallejo Police Department
- Captain Patrick Wong, Vallejo Fire Department
- Lieutenant Shawn Murphy, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office
- Chief Mark Heine, Sonoma County Fire District
- Jose Andres, Celebrity Chef and local second responder
- Tyler Florence, Celebrity Chef and local second responder
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California's 5th Congressional District, which includes all or part of Contra Costa, Lake, Napa, Solano and Sonoma Counties. He is a senior member of the House Committee on Ways and Means where he chairs the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. Rep. Thompson is Chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. He is also Co-Chair of the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus and a member of the fiscally-conservative Blue Dog Coalition.