Captain Peter Vandersluis, Engineer Kyle Karnow, Firefighter Mike Thawley, and Firefighter Ryan Brown of the Sacramento Fire Department’s Engine 5 Crew, along with Sacramento Police Department’s Officer Frank Ley, received awards at a luncheon on June 1, -provided by the Sally and Hubert Mee Fund of the Sacramento Region Community Foundation.
Vandersluis, Karnow, Thawley, and Brown received honors for their actions following a helicopter crash on eastbound Highway 50 on October 6, 2025. Recognizing the severity of the incident and the difficulty of accessing the crash site due to heavy traffic conditions, the crew traveled against traffic to quickly reach the victims. Upon arrival, they identified a victim trapped beneath the wreckage and organized nearby civilians to assist with lifting the aircraft. Through their leadership, teamwork, and coordinated efforts, rescuers were able to quickly extricate the victims. Two of the three victims involved in the crash ultimately survived.
Officer Ley received honors for actions taken during the Shamrock Half Marathon on March 16, 2025. After responding to reports of a driver attempting to enter a closed race route, Ley positioned himself between the vehicle and the runners on the course. Despite repeated efforts to de-escalate the situation, the driver continued toward the race route and struck Ley while attempting to drive through the road closure. Ley’s actions helped prevent what could have become a major disaster and potential loss of life among runners participating in the event.
The June award luncheon celebrated the 29th anniversary of the Mee Awards, honoring the meritorious acts of local first responders. Each honoree received a $3,000 grant from the Sally & Hubert Mee Fund at the Foundation. Annually, the Fund’s selection committee accepts nominations, looking for Sacramento City Police and Fire Department first responders in recognition of their heroic performance in the discharge of their duties.
The Mee family always placed importance on heroism. As a young man, Hubert Mee worked as a lifeguard. During World War II, he swam a wounded fellow seaman to safety during the sinking of the USS Quincy at Guadalcanal. “His experience as a hero, and seeing other acts of heroism, gave my dad a lifelong appreciation for actions that save lives,” said his daughter, Nancy Mee.
The awards program is made possible through the Sally and Hubert Mee Fund, which the Mees established in 1994 at the Foundation. Since 1997, 95 police officers and firefighters have been recognized through the Mee Awards.
