Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Employees Honored For Heroic Actions

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Dozens of Sheriff's Department employees and a U.S. Forest Service firefighter were honored Wednesday for heroic actions that saved the lives of others.

Sheriff Jim McDonnell and representatives from state Sen. Tony Mendoza, D-Norwalk, were among those presiding over the 2015 Lifesaving Awards Ceremony.

There were dozens of heroic examples highlighted at the ceremony, but one in particular involved seven deputies and two sergeants from the department's Palmdale Station.

Sergeants Richard Cartmill and Paul Zarris, and deputies Joana Gomez, Adrian Guillen, George Hanley, Dennis Miller, Travis Ogle, Scott Sorrow and Erika Wilts were honored for their actions rescuing two teenagers and their mother from a potential hostage situation Jan. 17, 2014.