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San Francisco nurse honored after rendering life-saving aid at Ninth Street shooting
Summary
The San Francisco Police Department recognized Carissa Cleverly Valencia, a UCSF registered nurse, for applying emergency first aid at the scene of a January 27 shooting on Ninth Street that officers said likely saved a victim’s life.
Carissa Cleverly Valencia, a registered nurse at UCSF, received a citizen-recognition award from the San Francisco Police Commission on June 11 for rendering emergency aid at the site of an officer-involved shooting on Jan. 27.
The recognition followed a presentation from Tenderloin Station officers describing how, as she returned from work, Cleverly Valencia saw a man lying on the ground at the unit block of Ninth Street after multiple gunshot wounds. According to Sergeant Coleman, she ran into traffic to reach the victim, removed her sweater and applied direct pressure to the victim’s facial wound until San Francisco Fire Department medics and SFPD arrived. Acting Chief Paul Yip and a treating physician, identified in the meeting as Dr. Kornbliff, told the commission that the victim survived and that the nurse’s immediate actions “absolutely” helped save his life.
Sergeant Coleman described the scene and the officers’ decision to ask the commission to recognize Cleverly Valencia’s actions, saying the response team considered her conduct “incredibly professional” under dangerous conditions. Sergeant Wells told the commission he had not seen a comparable act of bystander aid in his 22 years of service and called her “a credit to her profession and the citizens of San Francisco.” Acting Chief Yip thanked her on behalf of the department and noted the incident highlighted the role of community members in public safety.
Commissioners praised Cleverly Valencia during the public presentation and award ceremony. Commissioner Benedicto called the act “truly an act of heroism.” Several commissioners referenced video of the incident and expressed gratitude to the nurse and her family. Tenderloin Station also presented Cleverly Valencia with a station sweatshirt to replace the garment she had used at the scene.
Cleverly Valencia addressed the commission, saying the recognition was unexpected and that the incident deepened her appreciation for the daily work of SFPD officers and first responders. The commission allowed a brief public comment period following the recognition in which two speakers thanked her, one identifying themselves as a mother who had lost a child to homicide and expressing personal gratitude.
The presentation and award were an acknowledgment from the department and police commissioners of a civilian’s role in providing emergency care during an active crime scene and intended to highlight community involvement in public safety.
