Encinitas Sheriff’s Department Deputy honored

Deputy William Dunford from the Encinitas Sheriff’s Station was recently honored with the Charles “Bud” Meeks Valor Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year at the National Sheriffs’ Association’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas.

The award is one of the highest honors a Sheriff’s deputy can receive in the United States.

Dunford’s bravery and quick thinking are credited for helping save the lives of deputies Colin Snodgrass and James Steinmeyer, who were wounded in the line of duty in Encinitas on Feb. 20, 2013.

Dunford risked his own life to get the wounded deputies to safety and get them immediate medical care.

In giving him the Valor Award for Deputy Sheriff of the Year, the NSA says Dunford remained calm in the face of incredible danger and used his supreme leadership skills to take control of the situation.

In addition, Chris Van Gorder was recently promoted to the position of Reserve Assistant Sheriff.

For more than a decade, Van Gorder has been a member of the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit. He was appointed commander of the unit in 2007.

When he’s not assisting the Sheriff’s Department in the search for missing persons, Van Gorder is saving lives as CEO and president of Scripps Health.