Atascadero honors lifesaving first responders, approves Fire Department restructuring

By Mike Chaldu · Thu Aug 13 2026

Officer Alan Hearst receives his second Lifesaving Award as council also advances new fire leadership structure and considers changes to native tree regulations

ATASCADERO — What could have ended in tragedy became an occasion for celebration Tuesday night as the Atascadero City Council and Atascadero Police Department honored three public safety personnel whose quick actions helped save the life of an infant who was not breathing.

Atascadero Police Chief Dan Suttles presented Officer Alan Hurst with the department’s Lifesaving Award and recognized Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor Anjanette Ordonez and Public Safety Dispatcher Cheyenne Pacheco for their roles in the Oct. 22, 2025, emergency.

“There’s a lot of times that we, as a community, have to come together when there’s a tragic event,” Suttles told the council. “But tonight, we’re here to celebrate an event that could have been tragic, that turned out to be something to celebrate.”

On Oct. 22, personnel from the Atascadero Police Department and Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services responded to a report of an infant who was not breathing because of an obstructed airway.

According to the department’s citation, dispatch personnel calmly gathered critical information, provided timely updates, and ensured the appropriate emergency resources were sent without delay.

When Hurst arrived, he immediately assessed the unresponsive infant and began lifesaving measures. Relying on his CPR and first-aid training, Hurst administered back blows that successfully cleared the child’s airway and restored breathing.

“Through calm judgment, exceptional skill and an unwavering commitment to duty, Officer Hurst’s actions helped save a young life and exemplify the highest ideals of public service,” Suttles said while reading the citation.

Hearst was presented with the Lifesaving Award for his actions.

Suttles also recognized Ordonez and Pacheco for their professionalism and ability to communicate critical information while working under intense pressure.

“Their efforts exemplify the indispensable role dispatchers serve as the initial first responders in every emergency,” Suttles said.

Both dispatchers received Chief of Police Certificates of Commendation for their exemplary service.

The recognition also marked a notable milestone for Hurst. Suttles pointed out that it was the second time the officer has received the department’s Lifesaving Award.

The chief laughed as the humble officer appeared eager to step away after receiving his recognition.

“The way he’s trying to get out of here, I think maybe there’s a call you need to go to or something,” Suttles joked.

Councilmembers then came down from the dais to join the honorees for a photograph, expressing their appreciation for the first responders and their actions.

“We appreciate his humility as well,” Atascadero Mayor Charles Bourbeau said.

The evening ultimately highlighted the coordinated response required during a life-threatening emergency — from the dispatchers who answered the initial call and gathered critical information to the officers and firefighters who responded in the field.

Suttles congratulated Hurst, Ordonez, and Pacheco for their “exceptional service, professionalism and unwavering commitment to protecting the lives of those in this community.”

The council then shifted its attention to the future of the city’s fire department. With a new fire chief set to take the helm next month, council members approved a command restructuring for Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services, setting the stage for the department’s next chapter in leadership.

The plan, proposed by outgoing Atascadero Fire Chief Casey Bryson, will add a third battalion chief and one more firefighter to the department, and restore the fire captain/fire marshal position, which had been vacant since 2019. Bryson will be retiring from the job on Sept. 18, and current Battalion Chief for Community Risk Reduction Dave Van Son will take over as fire chief on Sept. 19, after his appointment was approved by the City Council at the previous meeting on July 14.

In Bryson's presentation, he recommended the addition of an additional battalion chief, and revised the scheduling to where the three battalion chiefs would rotate 24-hour shifts during the week. He also proposed the reestablishment of the fire captain/fire marshal position that would assume the responsibilities of the battalion chief community risk reduction, which includes fire prevention, plan review, public education, vegetation management, weed abatement enforcement, and fire and life safety inspections.

Other aspects of the proposal were to adopt a draft resolution for non-represented professional and management workers and confidential employees, authorize a side letter with the Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600 for the existing memorandum of understanding (MOU), and to allocate $150,000 from the

General Fund reserve to liquidate a portion of the Holiday Leave Liability.

Bryson said the timing was right to revamp the command structure, which will see an increase of one position, and hopefully more in the future.

"My retirement is coming up, and Chief Van Son has been confirmed to be the next chief," he said. "This moment is a logical and strategic time to do this reorganization."

Bryson said the establishment of the battalion captains also gives current fire personnel a pathway for advancement.

"This provides greater career pathways for people in our department. It supports retention of personnel, and helps develop future leadership," he said. "We can move captains up to the battalion chief role. Many have left for battalion chief positions at other agencies; this helps us keeps our leaders here."

Mayor Bourbeau said council didn't have a lot of questions about the restructuring because it had been discussed quite a bit already with APD leaders, and after the items passed 5-0, he said, "This is an exciting day, a major change for department in the future."

The next item on the agenda was the Native Tree Regulations Update Discussion, which was brought about, in part, from the removal of a Coast Live Oak tree in June in front of the Atascadero Senior Center on West Mall, across the street from the Sunken Gardens.

The complaint from those running the Senior Center was that an arborist was required to declare the tree dead and the current city tree ordinance states that it is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain native trees and, if needed, process removal of the tree, as well as the costs for it. Because of that, the nonprofit operating the Senior Center, Senior Citizens United, had to pay $1,787.84 for the arborist and removal, a cost City Manager Jim Lewis said at the July 14 meeting would be refunded.

For the Aug. 11 item, Community Development Director Phil Dunsmore suggested three changes in the current tree ordinance:

Removing the requirement of an arborist to examine a tree that's died by natural causes; Dunsmore's proposal would allow for any tree or plant expert — arborist, forester, field biological specialist, or agricultural extension agents — to examine the tree.

The elimination of fees for the removal and mitigation of a tree that died of natural causes, as determined by the community development director.

For a native tree that has died due to natural causes, as determined by the community development director, mitigation shall consist of the planting of one 5-gallon native tree on site.

The City Council was generally positive about the changes, although Bourbeau, who criticized the ordinance as a whole in this meeting and the previous one as "excessive," said the council needed to have an in-depth discussion on the city's entire tree policy.

"I love trees — they're one of the best things about Atascadero," Bourbeau said. "I'm worried about the sycamore trees downtown, I hate to see them all die at once. However, paying fees and requiring a larger tree for mitigation, I’m not in favor of it."

The council also received an update from Van Son on the city’s annual weed abatement program. He reported that 5,689 notices were sent to property owners in May, advising those with overgrown vegetation that their properties needed to be cleared by June 1 or the city could hire a contractor to complete the work at a substantial cost to the owner.

When properties were reinspected in June, only 77 remained in need of weed abatement, with the city ultimately completing work on 27 properties. That marked a significant decrease from the previous year, when the city abated 44 properties.

The City Council will not have another meeting in August, and will return to session on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Feature Image: Atascadero city leaders and public safety personnel gather Tuesday night as Officer Alan Hurst, Dispatcher Cheyenne Pacheco and Supervisor Anjanette Ordonez are recognized for their roles in the lifesaving response to an infant who was not breathing. Pictured from left are Council Member Heather Newsom, Mayor Pro Tem Mark Dariz, City Manager Jim Lewis, Commander Matt Chesson, Pacheco, Ordonez, Hurst, Police Chief Dan Suttles, Commander Bob Molle, Mayor Charles Bourbeau, Council Member Susan Funk and Council Member Seth Peek. Photo courtesy of City of Atascadero