CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has honored two of its officers for their heroic efforts to save the lives of city residents.

Clearlake Police's acting chief, Lt. Tim Celli, presented the commendations to Sgt. Travis Lenz and Officer Trevor Franklin during the Clearlake City Council's April 14 meeting. The presentation starts at the 6:40 mark in the video above.

Ahead of the commendation presentations, Celli paused to introduce the agency's newest dispatcher, Melissa Carpenter, who at that point was halfway through her 16-week communications training. Once completed, she'll be able to work on her own in dispatch, Celli said.

Celli said Carpenter and the department's other dispatchers were being showered with gifts and goodies that week in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which was marked from April 10 to 16.

Celli also introduced 27-year-old Chris Kelleher, Clearlake Police's newest officer.

Kelleher has spent most of his life in the Clearlake area, previously volunteered for the Lake County Fire Protection District and worked at a local mortuary, Celli said.

Last year, Kelleher graduated from the police academy at Santa Rosa Junior College. “He said it was the best decision of his life,” Celli said.

Getting hired by the Clearlake Police Department fulfilled Kelleher's dream of working locally, as he wants to raise his two young children here, according to Celli.

At that point, Kelleher was in week five of a 16-week training, Celli said.

After the introductions, Celli presented what he said were two very special commendations to Lenz and Franklin.

First up was Lenz, honored for saving a woman who had been held hostage at gunpoint on Oct. 29, 2015.

Celli said the commendation's presentation had to be put on hold until the department received a clearance letter from the District Attorney's Office.

That's because the District Attorney's Office was completing an investigation into the incident – which involved Lenz shooting and injuring the suspect, Brenden Fanucchi – as part of the county's critical incident protocol.

In March, District Attorney Don Anderson released his findings in the case, concluding that Lenz was justified in shooting Fanucchi, as Lake County News has reported.

Anderson was on hand for the presentation to Lenz at the April 14 meeting. Celli said he had spoken to Anderson about the case, and that Anderson had agreed that Lenz should receive the award for his actions.

On the morning of Oct. 29 Lenz responded to a report of a man – later identified as Fanucchi – holding two women hostage in a garage at a residence on 18th Avenue, according to the original police and district attorney's reports.

One of the women would be let go, but Fanucchi continued to hold the second woman at gunpoint. Celli said Lenz went into the residence to talk with Fanucchi, attempting to negotiate with him for nearly a half hour.

Lenz pleaded with Fanucchi to put the gun down and let the hostage go, Celli said. Fanucchi became more hostile, demanding marijuana he had accused the woman of stealing.

Then Fanucchi began counting down in what appeared to be preparation for shooting the woman. When he reached “two,” Lenz went into the garage and shot at Fanucchi twice. Fanucchi turned his attention to Lenz, who Celli said then shot twice more, with Fanucchi collapsing.

Fanucchi was treated for gunshot wounds to his right arm, left shoulder and upper abdomen, officials reported.

Celli said Fanucchi is now awaiting trial. Fanucchi remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, with his bail set at $1 million on an attempted murder charge, according to jail records.

Lenz's decisive, immediate and valiant action saved the hostage's life, and it reflected well on Lenz, the department and his chosen profession, said Celli.

Adding that Lenz handled the situation with honor and bravery, Celli presented him with a commendation. In addition, Lenz received a badge that says “valor” and which he is able to wear on his uniform.

Celli then called forward Officer Trevor Franklin, who in March saved an elderly couple from a house fire.

Franklin arrived on scene at the burning home on 39th Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. March 23, according to the original police report.

He found a man – Troy Burnett, who later was arrested for setting fire to his family's home – on the burning front porch and led him away to safety before going around to the rear of the residence and finding Burnett's sister in the backyard.

At the same time, Burnett's 82-year-old father and 77-year-old stepmother were trapped in the house. Celli said Franklin put his own safety at risk to save the couple, first leading out the man and then going inside to find the woman on the floor and unable to get up. He then carried her from the home.

Based on statements from witnesses, Franklin was credited with saving the lives of the man and woman, who Celli said likely would have perished.

Franklin received a certificate of commendation, and like Lenz a special badge – Franklin's with a life-saving award – to wear on his uniform to signify his accomplishment.

Franklin joined the Clearlake Police Department after he graduated from the police academy in December 2012. He's a 2007 graduate of Middletown High School.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.