On Thursday, May 23, 2024, County of Los Angeles Fire Department (LACoFD) Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) Manager, Shawna Lewis, was joined by Deputy Fire Chief Al Yanagisawa to present a Special Recognition Award to Child Support Services Department (CSSD) Chief Information Officer (CIO) Hooman Hassanpour.
While vacationing with his family in Maui, a swimmer was drowning in the ocean by an area of large rocks, while an onlooker shouted for “help.” CSSD CIO Hassanpour immediately sprang into action and swam out with great speed and determination to two distressed individuals in the ocean.
Hooman immediately went under to rescue the swimmer who had been under water for at least 15 seconds. The individual was initially unresponsive; however, Hooman was able to rouse them to consciousness. Hooman was able to get the person to focus and breathe so that he could also take hold of the other swimmer and begin to guide them both back to shore.
Despite the rocky area, Hooman and the two individuals safely made it back to awaiting first responders. Although Hooman suffered a deep laceration on his foot during the rescue, he considered his injury minor and was thankful to have been able to save the distressed swimmers.
Although he was unable to attend the LACoFD’s Valor and Exemplary Service Awards Ceremony in late April, ODEI Manager Lewis and Chief Yanagisawa wanted to ensure that CSSD CIO Hassanpour received a Special Recognition Award for demonstrating exemplary skills and taking immediate action to save two lives.
Congratulations CSSD CIO Hassanpour!
