Congressman Honors Deputy, Battalion Chief As Public Safety Heroes

NAPA COUNTY, CA — Each year, U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson honors law enforcement officers and first responders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. On Sunday, Napa County sheriff's Deputy Nick Deguilio and Cal Fire/Napa County Fire Battalion Chief J.C. Greenburg received that honor.

"Deputy Deguilio has shown his quick thinking and commitment to safety by helping save the lives of residents throughout Napa County," Thompson said. "Battalion Chief Greenberg’s response and actions during wildfires help keep our communities safe from devastating fires through effective and quick leadership. Deputy Deguilio and Chief Greenburg are exemplary public servants and are well deserving of this recognition."

Deputy Credited With Lifesaving First-Aid On Multiple Occasions

Early the afternoon of July 16, 2023, Deguilio responded to a medical call from a man who suffered a cut on his hand from a boat propeller. Not knowing the severity of the injury, and without a dispatch broadcast, he recognized the potentially urgent situation, notified colleagues and raced to the scene. Within seven minutes, Deguilio arrived and took control of the incident. While evaluating the patient’s injury, consisting of a partial hand amputation, he requested an air ambulance and applied a tourniquet to stop excessive bleeding. Deguilio remained attentive to the patient, who was in apparent shock and somewhat unresponsive, before being relieved by Cal Fire and other responding deputies. The patient was transported by helicopter to a hospital where he underwent multiple surgeries.

"The quick thinking and actions by Deguilio helped stabilize the victim and prevented a possibly far worse outcome," Thompson said.

Exactly two months later, Deguilio responded to a stabbing at a remote residence in Napa County. Initial details from a call to 911 were that the caller’s husband had been stabbed by an unknown person in their backyard and that the husband was trying to hold down the suspect. Deguilio was the first to arrive at the scene and decided to try to locate the victim and suspect without waiting for backup.

He found the injured resident, who had taken the weapon from the suspect and was holding the suspect down. As Deguilio took control of the knife and immediately handcuffed the suspect, the resident fell to his hands and knees. Deguilio promptly cut open the resident’s bloodied shirt and found a 3-inch open stab wound on the victim's upper back. Not knowing the severity of the wound, Deguilio immediately applied a chest seal to the resident’s back and continued applying pressure while awaiting further medical assistance.

As more deputies arrived, he learned the suspect had also been stabbed during the altercation. Once medical personnel arrived and began aiding the resident, Deguilio moved to provide first aid to the suspect, applying another chest seal to the suspect’s stab wound.

Deguilio’s quick decision-making certainly saved lives, Thompson said.

Greenberg Praised For 'Quick, Effective Leadership'

Greenberg's actions saved homes and most likely lives when a vegetation fire broke out July 5, 2023, in the Coombsville area. The fire, which threatened multiple residences and Silverado Middle School, started during peak hours at 1:35 p.m. and was influenced by a 13-mph wind on a grassy slope surrounded by residential homes.

Led by Greenberg, the City of Napa Fire Department, Cal Fire and the Napa County Fire Department quickly defended the structures under threat and provided perimeter control from further fire growth. This response demonstrated the effectiveness of strong, cooperative relations among centralized emergency responders.

"Greenberg’s quick and effective leadership certainly prevented further damage to our community," Thompson said.

DeGuilio and Greenberg were among 11 public safety heroes recognized Sunday. Below is the full list of honorees within Thompson's Congressional District which encompasses all or part of Lake, Napa, Solano, Sonoma and Yolo counties.

• Daniel Eagle, Clearlake Police Department
• Chrissy Valdez, Northshore Fire Protection
• Nick Deguilio, Napa County Sheriff’s Office
• J.C. Greenberg, CAL FIRE
• Lauren Coughlan, Vacaville Police Department
• Andrew Tomelloso, Dixon Fire Department
• Debbie Lamaison, Rohnert Park Police Department
• Santa Rosa Maui Recovery Team
• Ghost, Santa Rosa Police Department K9
• Joe Farrow, UC Davis Police Department
• Clarksburg Fire Protection District

"Our first responders and law enforcement are the first line of defense for our communities and work to keep us safe," Thompson said. "Our district is home to outstanding public safety officials who go above and beyond in their service, and I am proud to recognize them each year as Public Safety Heroes."