The Board of Supervisors presented proclamations to Deputy Gary Frace, Sgt. Andy Davidson and Det. Mike Curran on Oct. 11, honoring them for the actions they took to save the lives of Willy Turner and Lesa Serrano after a violent confrontation with Serrano's estranged husband, Andrew.
Supervisor Rob Brown read the commendations as Frace and Curran looked on. Davidson was not present, but Sheriff Frank Rivero showed up to accept his commendation for him.
The men received a standing ovation from the gallery.
Initially, Brown said he had planned to present a commendation just to Frace, but he said Frace said that Curran and Davidson were just as involved as he was.'
“That's the kind of guy Gary is,” said Brown.
Additionally, District Attorney Don Anderson shared with Brown the facts surrounding the investigation, which make clear that all three were crucial to bringing the near-deadly confrontation to an end.
The three men were on duty shortly after noon on Saturday, Sept. 10, when they were dispatched to the Big Valley Road home of Andrew Serrano on the report of a shooting, as Lake County News has reported.
“Something like that does not happen every day in Lake County, much less Kelseyville,” said Brown, adding that the incident rocked the community.
“It's deputies like these that make me proud to me part of this community and have them as friends,” he said.
Board Chair Jim Comstock added, “We can't thank our law enforcement officers enough for what they do.”
Anderson also presented them letters of commendation from his office.
A former sheriff's deputy himself, Anderson said he and his staff were very impressed with the mens' performance, and commended their bravery and professionalism in engaging and disarming Andrew Serrano.
He said their actions most assuredly saved the lives of Turner and Lesa Serrano.
Anderson offered the commendations on behalf of himself, Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff – who was looking on from the gallery – and District Attorney Chief Investigator Craig Woodworth.
He shook both Curran's and Frace's hands, and followed up by giving each of the men a big hug.
According to the investigative report, Frace arrived just ahead of Curran, pulling out his own set of personal bolt cutters that he carried in his patrol vehicle to cut the lock off the driveway gate.
Together they went down the driveway, where their reports said they found Andrew Serrano outside of the home, holding his estranged wife, Lesa, by the arm and with a handgun in his other hand, dragging her toward his pickup. Frace's report said Lesa Serrano's face was bleeding heavily and that she had blood down her shirt.
Frace pulled up, got out of his patrol car and after drawing his own weapon ordered Andrew Serrano to put down his handgun and get down on the ground.
Davidson, the third deputy on scene, arrived as Curran was handcuffing Serrano. He went into the garage to find Turner lying on his back just inside the door, with Lesa Serrano standing nearby.
Turner was holding a rag to his chest, over the wound. Frace arrived and stayed with Turner as Davidson went outside to contact Central Dispatch and request a REACH helicopter to transport Turner to the hospital.
In an Oct. 12 interview, Turner – who had been present for the proclamation presentation the day before – told Lake County News that he was extremely grateful to Curran, Davidson and Frace for what they did to save his life and that of Lesa Serrano.
Of Davidson in particular, Turner said, “His immediate care and his ability to make things happen was instrumental in saving my life, for sure.”
He said he's very proud of the expertise and quality of local law enforcement and fire personnel. “Thanks to the people who put their lives on the line every day for our safety and health.”
Turner said Lesa Serrano also fought her soon-to-be-ex-husband who, as he was holding onto her, said he planned to go and kill Turner.
He also thanked Brown for his help caring for Turner's family in the wake of the incident, which left Turner hospitalized in Santa Rosa for several days.
Turner says he's healing well and looking forward to getting on the mat at the newly dedicated Kelseyville High School wrestling facility, named for his father, where he coaches wrestling.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
101111 - Lake County - Frace, Davidson and Curran Commendations
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