Napa County Deputy Honored With International Award For Bravery

NAPA, CA — The International Association of Women Police is honoring Napa County Sheriff's Deputy Riley Jarecki with its 2020 Bravery Award.

The honor is directly related to Jarecki’s brave response during an officer-involved shooting Feb. 17, 2019, in Napa County, according to sheriff's office Spokesman Henry Wofford.

Jarecki comes from a family with a history of public service. She follows in the footsteps of her father, a retired Napa County sheriff’s sergeant, and her grandfather, a former captain at the Napa Police Department. Jarecki's aunt is a member of the Napa Fire Department.

Prior to joining law enforcement, Jarecki earned a bachelor's degree in communications and received a certificate in public relations from Boise State University. She joined the Napa County Sheriff's Office in June 2018 and currently serves in the patrol bureau and as a certified DARE —Drug Abuse Resistance Education — instructor. She is also a member of the Napa County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team. Locally in March 2019, she was named Honorary Woman of the Year and First Responder of the Year.

Here is a summary from the International Association for Women Police of the incident for which Jarecki was selected to be honored:

"At 10:59 p.m. Feb. 17, 2019, Jarecki was on duty, patrolling a rural area in Napa County when she noticed a car parked on the road facing in the wrong direction. She called in her location and proceeded to check the car and its inhabitant out. She found a man sitting behind the wheel and spoke with him through the slightly open window from the passenger side, telling him to keep his hands on the wheel. The man agreed that she could look around and she proceeds to shine her flashlight into the car as she walked around the rear of the vehicle and approached the driver side.
"As Jarecki approached the driver’s door, she told him to roll down the window. The suspect muttered something to himself before complying, he then pointed a gun at her and fired several shots; one was at point-blank range. Jarecki backed up to the rear of the car as the suspect started the engine. She radioed in that shots had been fired and then fired shots from her weapon into the vehicle, aiming for the suspect.
"Jarecki said she saw the gun flash and her ears started ringing; she thought she had been hit but was still able to fire her weapon and call in for backup. The suspect had been killed and Jarecki was uninjured.
"The suspect had multiple aliases and an extensive criminal history, including charges of selling controlled substances, assault with a deadly weapon, driving drunk and battering of a peace officer. He had been living in his car at the time of the incident and the car was registered to a fake name, so Jarecki was unaware of his previous history.
"Officers also found a Winchester 74, .2- caliber rifle and a gas-powered pellet rifle in the car, along with .22-caliber cartridges on the suspect's person. Although the suspect died from his gunshot wounds, he was found to have methamphetamine in his system. Despite only two and a half years of experience, by following her training when facing the threat, Deputy Jarecki survived."

The IAWP said it receives nominations each year from across the globe for women in policing who are deserving of recognition for their contribution to policing and to their local communities.

It also receives nominations for men to be considered for its male award in support of the UN "HeForShe" campaign, which recognizes a male officer or civilian employed by a law enforcement agency or police force who has made a significant contribution and commitment to the advancement of women in policing.

"The quality of the nominations across all the award categories creates a very difficult task for the selection committee, and 2019 again provided the committee with a real challenge as every one of the nominees is deserving of recognition," the IAWP said.

Jarecki is the only U.S. honoree for IAWP's 2020 awards. During a formal luncheon later this month in Anchorage, Alaska, she will be recognized along with six other women and one man from countries including the United Kingdom, Ukraine and Canada.

"The IAWP is so pleased to recognize the outstanding work of our colleagues in law enforcement," IAWP President Deborah Friedl said. "These stories exemplify that with the right tools, training, and opportunity, women excel in policing and keep our communities safer."