Police commission honors civilian who aided arson probe and two officers for lifesaving actions

The San Francisco Police Commission on Jan. 9 recognized a civilian and two officers for actions that helped investigators and preserved life.

Inspector Halloran described a Sept. 3, 2012 arson at an ATM on Market Street in which a suspect lit combustible material and placed it in an ATM waste receptacle. Tommy Halloway provided detailed black-and-white and colored sketches of the suspect without prompting from police. "Within two days, Mr. Halloway presented these sketches to me, and then after looking at the sketches and putting that information out, this suspect was soon taken into custody," Halloran said. The commission presented Halloway a certificate of appreciation.

Later, President Mazuko and commissioners presented certificates to Officers Matthew Cloud and Steven Grich for actions on Dec. 12, 2012, in Bayview-Hunters Point. According to the commission, the officers found an unresponsive infant in a sweatshirt, performed emergency life-saving care and transported the child to San Francisco General Hospital when no ambulance was immediately available. "They weren't gonna let that baby die on a rainy night in the Bayview Hunters Point," a commissioner said. Officer Grich, described as a former paramedic, performed CPR and helped revive the child, who is referred to in the record as "baby Nash."

Commissioners praised the civilian and the officers for acting decisively under dangerous or urgent circumstances. "You guys are truly heroes," President Mazuko said when presenting the honors.

The presentations were ceremonial; no policy decisions or disciplinary matters were made in connection with the awards. The commission closed public comment for the presentations before moving on to other agenda items.