Three Santa Barbara Police Department officers received the H. Thomas Guerry Award for Superior Performance during a May 8 ceremony. The award is named after Santa Barbara Police Officer H. Thomas Guerry who was killed in the line of duty in 1970.
Sgt. Thomas Van Eyck, Officer Madison Trevino, and Officer Shaneese Fischer received the award, which is presented annually in Guerry’s memory by the Santa Barbara Citizen’s Council on Crime.
Sgt. Van Eyck and Officer Trevino received the Award for Superior Performance as a result of the following incident:
On July 15, 2024, Santa Barbara Police Dispatch received a call regarding a suspicious subject with a firearm. The witness saw the male suspect standing near the intersection of Anapamu and De La Vina streets with a gun in his hand.
The suspect was later seen tucking the gun into his waistband and leaving the area. Sgt. Van Eyck, who was an officer at the time, was the first to arrive in the area.
Van Eyck located the suspect, who matched the description when he turned down an alley on the 300 block of West Anapamu Street.
Van Eyck, a veteran officer with some 16 years of experience, decided to contact the suspect in a non-threatening manner in an effort to de-escalate the situation. Van Eyck’s experience showed as the suspect stopped and engaged the officer in conversation.
Trevino was the first officer to arrive and assist Van Eyck with his contact.
As Trevino approached, the suspect realized he was at a disadvantage and, fearing the inevitable discovery of his firearm, fled on foot.
Van Eyck and Trevino gave chase, and while the foot pursuit was short, it was extremely dangerous, the Police Department said.
The suspect was eventually caught and taken to the ground in a nearby alley. Van Eyck and Trevino gave clear commands and were able to control the suspect on the ground while they waited for responding officers to assist.
Once the suspect was placed into handcuffs, a loaded 9mm handgun was found underneath his body. It was later learned that the suspect was a previously convicted felon. He told officers that he attempted to flee for fear of returning to prison.
“This suspect was a clear danger to the community and responding officers. Sgt. Van Eyck and Officer Trevino demonstrated courage, professionalism, and valor in resolving this tense and dangerous situation,” police said.
Officer Shaneese Fischer received the Award for Superior Performance as a result of the following episode:
On Jan. 24, 2025, Officer Fischer assisted units on a suicidal subject at the Douglas Family Preserve.
As the call was being relayed by dispatch, Fischer sensed the gravity of the situation and proactively responded to the call.
Fischer was one of the first officers to arrive on the scene and, along with Officer Madison Hank, located the subject’s car near the entrance to the preserve.
Fischer and Hank went looking for the distressed man and found him sitting on the edge of the cliff in the preserve. The man was extremely emotional and clearly suffering from a mental health crisis, police said.
“Without hesitation, Officer Fischer, a trained member of our Crisis Negotiation Response Team, began a dialogue with the male and got him to gradually lower his defenses,” the Police Department said. “At one point, Officer Fischer gained enough of the male’s trust to allow her to put a blanket around his shoulders. This act ultimately led to the male backing away from the edge of the cliff.
“Officer Fischer’s patience and poise resulted in a safe outcome that was far from certain at the outset. She showed compassion and empathy towards the male’s sense of hopelessness, and her human touch ultimately saved his life.”
The 55th Annual H. Thomas Guerry Awards was recorded and can be viewed on the County of Santa Barbara Cable Television Channel 20 (CSBTV20).