Article from San Clemente Times.
The Exchange Club of San Clemente honored two public safety professionals during its annual Deputy and Firefighter of the Year luncheon on Thursday, Nov. 20, with the event’s speakers repeatedly emphasizing the dedication, leadership and daily work displayed by this year’s honorees, Deputy Justin Kleinau of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Captain Andy Davis of the Orange County Fire Authority.
Much of the program centered on the qualities that led their peers — not their supervisors — to select them for the annual recognition.
San Clemente Mayor Steve Knoblock opened the ceremony by thanking the city’s first responders and welcoming attendees, describing the event as an opportunity to recognize “what you do for the men and women that serve our community in a heroic way.” The focus then shifted to the deputies and firefighters being honored, with extended comments about their work and the roles they carry within their departments.
Introducing Deputy Kleinau, Sergeant Jared Streeter described his growth since joining the Sheriff’s Department in 2018. Streeter first met Kleinau while supervising him at the Central Men’s Jail and said he knew early on “what type of deputy and person he was, and what kind of deputy he would turn into.”
When Kleinau transferred to San Clemente Police Services in 2021, he quickly became a core part of the station’s operations.
Streeter said Kleinau consistently displayed professionalism, patience, command presence and effective communication, noting that he “arrived to work every day with a positive attitude and was always looking to take bad guys to jail.”
Kleinau’s unanimous selection as a field training officer in 2023 stood out as a major milestone. Field training officers train incoming deputies on patrol, and Streeter said Kleinau logged roughly 700 hours of formal training while instructing six deputies. His responsibilities expanded again when he joined San Clemente’s specialized enforcement detail, where he and a partner completed 163 arrests in six months.
“For those of us struggling to do the math,”Streeter said, “that equates to an average of 27 arrests a month. That’s more than some cities.”
Streeter also emphasized that Kleinau’s contributions extended far beyond numbers, saying he demonstrated “integrity without compromise, service above self, professionalism in the performance of his duties and vigilance in safeguarding our community.”
He added that Kleinau’s reliability and leadership had a direct impact on shaping newer deputies. Kleinau’s family was recognized during the presentation, and Streeter noted their support in his development and accomplishments.
The second major recognition of the afternoon went to Captain Davis, whose leadership and technical capabilities were highlighted by OCFA supervisors. Speakers noted that Davis’ entire Truck 59 crew attended the ceremony on their day off, referencing it several times as a testament to their respect for him.
OCFA Division Chief Cheyne Maule said he had heard strong recommendations about Davis before meeting him personally. “I had no idea how professional and amazing of a man he was,” Maule said, adding that seeing a full crew appear off-duty was “the ultimate litmus test for leadership.”
Battalion Chief Brian Roberts, who supervises Davis directly, echoed those comments.
He acknowledged that firefighters rarely seek recognition. “None of us like receiving awards,” he said. “We do our job proudly … it’s usually very uncomfortable to call people up and recognize them for the efforts they do throughout the year.”
Even so, Roberts said Davis stood out for his ability to lead calmly during emergencies, make sound decisions under pressure and set a strong example for his crew. Davis’ background includes firefighting in Texas before joining OCFA, becoming a paramedic, being promoted to captain, and developing expertise in technical rescue disciplines such as rope rescue, trench rescue and confined space operations. Roberts described him as someone with “an unwavering commitment to train and be the best at his job” and “an unwavering commitment to his crew and keeping them safe.”
Davis thanked his supervisors, crewmembers and family after accepting the recognition. He singled out the other members of Truck 59 for their daily work, saying, “My name might be on this, but they’re 100 percent the reason why I’m up here.”
Representatives from regional offices also participated in honoring the two recipients, with certificates recognizing their service to San Clemente and their contributions to public safety countywide. One presenter noted the significance of the awards being peer-selected, saying, “They’re not selected by their bosses … they’re selected by their peers, which I think is truly indicative of their worth.”
The ceremony concluded with thanks from Exchange Club organizers, who said the tradition will continue in partnership with the City of San Clemente. The afternoon repeatedly returned to the accomplishments of the two honorees, whose colleagues pointed to leadership, professionalism, technical skill and daily reliability as the qualities that set them apart in their respective agencies.