A night for heroes
Peace Officers Association honors those showing courage under fire
By Carissa Marsh Special to the Acorn

PROUD OF DAD- Vicky Bornet gets a hug from her daughter Leslie, 22, after receiving the Distinguished Service Medal, which was given posthumously to her husband, Ventura County Sheriff's Dep. Robert Bornet. Bornet was killed in an automobile accident in 2006 while attempting to make a traffic stop.

In the summer of 2006, Dep. Sheriff Robert Bornet returned home from serving two tours of duty in the Iraq war.

As a master chief at arms in the U.S. Naval Reserves, he'd been called up to serve- forced to leave his family and a job he loved as a traffic enforcement officer with the county's sheriff's department.

Once back home, he couldn't wait to get back on patrol, but was first assigned to Court Services.

On the afternoon of Nov. 6, 2006, Bornet was on his way home for lunch from the courts when he witnessed a traffic violation. Though technically offduty, he was dressed in his full uniform for work, and he attempted to stop the suspect.

Bornet, 46, never made it home for lunch.

Photos by IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers QUICK TO ACT- United States Air Force Security Officer Jason Brown receives a Medal of Valor during the Ventura County Peace Officers Association awards ceremony held Saturday. Brown was recognized for his efforts in rescuing critically injured California Highway Patrol Officer Tony Pedeferri following a traffic accident on Highway 101 last November.

While he was in pursuit of the suspect- who was traveling at 79 mph in a 45 mph zone- the two vehicles collided, slamming Bornet's personal vehicle into a power pole and concrete wall. He died on impact.

For Bornet's dedication to duty and making the ultimate sacrifice, his family was honored Saturday with the Distinguished Service Medal at the 35th annual Peace Officers Association of Ventura County (POAVC) Medal of Valor awards banquet.

The emotional evening was held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

"I'm overwhelmed, if that's the right word for it," Bornet's widow, Vicki, said before the ceremony. "But so honored that he's getting the recognition he deserves."

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers CITIZENS AND OFFICERS COMMENDED- Award recipients receive a standing ovation during the Ventura County Peace Officers Association Medal of Valor awards ceremony at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on Saturday evening.

Bornet's name will be added to the Peace Officers Memorial wall at the county government center on Thursday, May 22.

Vicki Bornet, 47, said she cried when she heard the news.

"That was one of the things that meant the most to me, to have his name on the wall," she said.

POAVC is composed of members of each of the law enforcement agencies in the county. The purpose of the organization is to enhance the image of law enforcement within the community.

Each year, POAVC honors acts of bravery, heroism and service by citizens as well as police officers.

The Medal of Valor awards ceremony recognizes those people who've placed themselves at great personal risk so that others may be safe from harm.

Saturday's keynote speaker, Christopher Darden, a Los Angeles district attorney best known for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial, called the night's honorees "real American heroes."

He said that when looking up the definition of hero, one word stood out: selfless.

"We all know you don't have to do this, and we appreciate it," Darden said. "When we see these words- courage, bravery, perseverance- from now on we'll think of you. It's good to know, and comforting for me to know, that in our community there are people like you."

One surprising hero was 12year-old Neil Cotton, the evening's youngest honoree.

Neil was awarded the Citizen's Medal of Merit for "an act of heroism beyond that expected, performed at great personal risk with intent of saving life," according to POAVC's guidelines.

In August last year, Neil was spending a day at the pool at Victoria Village, where his grandparents live in Ventura. A young girl mistakenly jumped into the deep end of the pool and began waving her arms for help as she struggled to stay afloat. Her father jumped in to save her- but he could not swim as well.

Neil saw the two floundering in the pool and immediately jumped in to help, pulling them to safety in the shallow end.

"It was a natural instinct; I just dived in," Neil said. "I was nervous because people were drowning, but excited afterward because I just saved two people's lives."

Neil's mother, Dana CottonEneriz, couldn't be more proud.

"He's a special guy. He's been very humble about it," she said. "He just did what he had to do at the moment."

Other honorees included:

•Air Force Security Officers Jason Brown and James Dunsenbury, Officer's Medal of Valor

•Steffani Zeravica and Heriberto Torres, Citizen's Medal of Merit

•Ventura Police Officers Erick Kuskie and Eric Vazquez and Ventura Police Sgt. David Dickey, Officer's Medal of Valor

•Oxnard Police Officer Edward Baldwin, Officer's Medal of Merit

•Diane Cox and Pratish Bhrattacharjee, Citizen's Medal of Merit

•Florencia Ayala, Citizen's Medal of Merit

•Elijah Williams, Citizen's Medal of Merit

•Oxnard Police Officers Rocky Marquez and Marty Cook, Officer's Medal of Merit

The Crime Scene Investigation Units from each city in the county were also acknowledged with a Unit Citation Award for each department's hard work and achievement behind the scenes.