President Trump Honors Redondo Beach Officer

REDONDO BEACH, CA — Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol Officer David Poirier Jr. will be honored by President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., with a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three people who were swept off a breakwater.

Poirier, 51, was among the Harbor Patrol officers who were first to arrive at the scene when four victims -- two men and two women -- were swept into the ocean from the Redondo Beach breakwater while fishing on the night of Feb. 24, 2016.

Poirier swam to the victims, two of whom were holding onto their son, who had hit his head and appeared to be dead, when another wave swept them into the water, according to authorities and an account in the Daily Breeze.

The officer got ahold of the dead man -- later identified as One Nguyen, 36, of Westminster, Colorado -- while the other three victims clung to Poirier, who told The Breeze the victims were pulling him under as tried to get them back onto the rocks.

Rescuers soon arrived and pulled Poirier and the victims from the water.

Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

No date was given for when Trump will present the award to Poirier.

City News Service

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