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UC Berkeley police specialist Lisa Campbell was honored Monday night by Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-Pleasanton) and others in a ceremony in the San Ramon City Hall for her work in the arrest of Phillip Garrido for the kidnap 18 years ago of Jaycee Dugard.
Dugard and her two daughters, who are believed to have been fathered by Garrido, were subsequently rescued from the backyard of Garrido’s home in Antioch where they had been held captive.
McNerney praised Campbell for her police work in suspecting there was “something wrong” when Garrido approached her Aug. 24 with his two daughters asking for a permit to conduct a religious-themed event on the UC campus.
Campbell, who manages special events at the Berkeley campus, said her intuition told her something wasn’t right and asked Garrido to return the following day. Meantime, she worked with fellow officers to run a background check on Garrido and learned he was on federal parole for kidnapping and rape.
“We had a young girl who was kidnapped 18 years ago and was held in conditions that would just be unimaginable for all of us,” McNerney said. “Yet, despite numerous opportunities to rescue her, none of those were realized.”
“It took the intuition of an officer to recognize a situation that didn’t seem right,” he added. “In my opinion that’s the essence of good police work and she deserves this recognition tonight.”
Calling Campbell to the front of the San Ramon City Council chambers, McNerney presented her with a framed copy of a statement commending her police work that appeared in the Congressional Record and also with an American flag that had been flown atop the U.S. Capitol.
“Your good work has had a profound impact on Jaycee and her family’s lives and also led to the capture of a very dangerous person,” McNerney added. “We won’t have to worry about another Jaycee being kidnapped by this evil person, so your action has benefitted the family and the community. You’ve been a light of inspiration for all of us.”
Campbell, who is originally from Chicago but now lives in San Ramon, praised “the fabulous team I work with in doing the police work we all do every day.”
“It was a collaboration of great police work,” she said. “It was just three people coming together to accomplish something that we had no idea what a monumental achievement it would be. I’m grateful and thank you so much and I feel at home.”
Joining in the ceremony were State Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D-15th), Contra Costa Supervisor Mary Piepho, San Ramon Mayor Abram Wilson and the four other members of the San Ramon City Council.
Bravo Lisa Campbell!!! Law enforcement should learn from you. Their job is to protect and serve………..and that you did.
A great model for all law enforcement officers. Also, interesting how McNenery could make time in his busy schedule for this publicity, but didn’t have time over recess to host a townhall and listen to his constituents.
Our thanks to officer Campbell. Yet Jeb, always campaigning for McNerney uses ‘headline grabber”of “” McNerneyxxxxxxxxx””, leading reader to think McNerney was KEY to the article, which of course, he was not. But that is THE most valuable form of ‘campaigning’ any candidate can be given, and the author doesn’t even have to “report” it to the Feds.
Of course since McNerney just votes as Pelosi tells him, there is little to report on his contribution to our district. Mostly, it’s ‘using’ the paper’s photo ops of ‘motherhood & apple pie’ pics with our school kids, or the always good veteran stories.
Cynthia = right-wing sour grapes
Cynthia and Susie,
Excellent points! Al…wake up.
If the PW charged customers for their editions, they’d have a difficult time breaking even because very few conservatives would pay to read this extremely biased paper. It might as well be funded by Obama’s PR and Communication Dept.