Last Wednesday’s Susanville City Council meeting was a night of high honors, recognizing the exceptional service and bravery of three of the city’s dedicated public safety professionals: Police Sergeant Anthony “Todd” Johnston, Fire Engineer Zachary Hoffman and Police Officer Anthony Ortiz.
Sergeant Johnston Receives MADD Award for Impaired Driving Enforcement
Sergeant Anthony “Todd” Johnston was recognized for his unwavering commitment to making Susanville’s roads safer, receiving a prestigious award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
In 2024 alone, Sergeant Johnston made an impressive 44 arrests for impaired driving. This marks his fifth MADD award in his career, though the Susanville Police Department noted a significant milestone: this is the first MADD award ever given to an officer of their department.
Susanville Public Safety Chief Michael Bengoa-Bollinger presented the award, praising Sergeant Johnston’s proactive approach. For years, he has made it a priority to find impaired drivers and remove them from the roadways before they can cause harm, a dedication that MADD clearly recognizes and applauds. The Police Department took the opportunity to issue a reminder to the community: never drink and drive!
Engineer Hoffman and Officer Ortiz Honored for Lifesaving Actions
In a separate, but equally important recognition, Chief Bengoa-Bollinger presented Engineer Zachary Hoffman of the Susanville Fire Department and Officer Anthony Ortiz of the Susanville Police Department with Life Saving Awards.
The awards honor their “outstanding performance in the saving of a human life, and the display of bravery, capability, and attention to duty,” an action that has earned them the “respect and admiration for themselves and the Department.”
The heroic actions took place a few weeks prior as the two men were returning from dive team training at Crater Lake. While traveling back to Susanville, they observed a vehicle stopped on the side of the road with a man standing near a woman who was lying on the ground. Recognizing a serious situation, they immediately stopped to render assistance.
The woman was found to be in serious respiratory distress, nearing anaphylactic shock due to a bug bite. Acting decisively, Officer Ortiz and Engineer Hoffman quickly coordinated with the local dispatch center. They made the critical decision to transport the patient in Officer Ortiz’s personal vehicle to expedite care, with Engineer Hoffman rendering aid in the backseat.
During the emergency transport, they successfully coordinated with a US Forest Service Engine to obtain crucial medical supplies and oxygen. With these resources, Engineer Hoffman was able to stabilize the patient’s breathing. Meanwhile, Officer Ortiz coordinated a police escort through Susanville to ensure the fastest possible arrival at the hospital.
Thanks to their coordinated, quick thinking and decisive actions, the woman arrived safely and received the higher level of care she desperately needed, ultimately saving her life.
