Scene from one of the wildfires in Southern California. (Pedro Perez Moran)
A Los Angeles TSA canine handler risked his life to save others after massive wildfires ripped through Southern California.
In 2017, Pedro Perez Moran joined TSA as a screening officer, advancing his career to lead officer and then explosives detection canine handler with his canine partner Deni. For the last five years, he has also served the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) as a reserve sheriff’s deputy.
As deputy, Perez Moran played a critical role in the wildfire response efforts, working long and grueling shifts to evacuate hundreds of homeowners in the Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas.
Perez Moran stepped away from his TSA role for two weeks to help in the lifesaving mission.
“While working my regular patrol duties as a sheriff’s deputy (during my days off from TSA), the first fire broke out,” he recalled. “Immediately, our Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department dispatch began requesting active personnel who were available to assist in response to the fire that quickly spread from 20 acres to over 500 in a matter of hours.”
Within a couple of days, all LASD personnel, including reserves, were required to check-in at their assigned deputy stations. Perez Moran then reached out to his TSA canine supervisors to ask for leave.
“As a sheriff’s deputy, it’s my duty, my responsibility,” proclaimed Perez Moran. “I help my community, assist those I grew up with and serve as a public servant, because I enjoy interacting with people and helping others.”
He helped evacuate people from their homes, performed welfare checks, manned road closures and took part in active roving patrols.
“I made contact with many people who, unfortunately, were forced to leave all their personal belongings behind and others who attempted to fill their cars with whatever they could hold onto,” described Perez Moran. “It was truly heartbreaking.”
After the tough task of evacuating people and keeping them out of their homes for their own safety, Perez Moran and his team shifted their focus toward preventing looters from entering empty homes and taking advantage of vacant communities.
He experienced mixed emotions from the victims of the tragic wildfires.
“I interacted with community members who were both sincerely grateful and utterly devastated at the same time,” explained Perez Moran. “The mountains were burned, entire houses leveled, and cars melted down to only a frame. It felt unreal. Throughout the day, all you could see was smoke filling the sky and ash falling everywhere. At night, the mountains glowed as the fire continued moving with the wind direction.”
Nothing in his TSA nor sheriff’s deputy career compared to his California wildfire experience.
TSA leadership at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) took note of Perez Moran’s heroism.
“His extraordinary efforts were instrumental in saving countless lives, safeguarding billions of dollars in residential and commercial property and bolstering Los Angeles County’s emergency response to one of the most devastating wildfires in its history,” said TSA LAX Deputy Assistant Federal Security Director-Threat Assessment Programs Brian Real.
LAX Federal Security Director Jason Pantages added, “Canine Handler Perez Moran’s selfless dedication and unwavering commitment to public safety during the wildfires exemplify the very best of TSA. For 14 grueling days, he put his own life on the line to protect the people of Los Angeles County, ensuring their safety under the most dangerous conditions. His actions not only saved lives but also safeguarded entire communities, demonstrating the highest standards of service, integrity and bravery. We are incredibly proud to have him as part of Team LAX, and his contributions will not be forgotten.”
In response to several civilian drone incidents in the area, one of which grounded an air tanker carrying fire retardants following a collision, the LASD partnered Perez Moran with the FBI to monitor drones in the region.
“We located and identified flying drones and pinpointed their exact locations,” he noted. “We then dispatched responding law enforcement officers to locate the drone operator/pilot.”
When asked how he balances his time as TSA canine handler and sheriff’s deputy, Perez Moran responded by saying, “Carefully.”
“Both jobs have their unique demands,” he said, “but I’ve learned that carefully managing and balancing each role is important to my wellbeing. If I overcommit to one, it prevents me from remaining focused on the other. Remaining balanced allows me to dedicate the time and energy to each position … the time and energy each position rightfully deserves.”
By Don Wagner, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs