He officially retired in November, but Ventura County’s former Sheriff was honored over the weekend by Southern California broadcast journalists. Geoff Dean was less than 72 hours from retirement when the Borderline Bar and Grill attack occurred, and the Hill and Woolsey Fires started.
He worked with the media to provide key information and updates at a time when he was supposed to be going retirement events celebrating his four decade long career.
The Radio and Television News Association of Southern California, which represents the region’s radio and television broadcast journalists, honored Dean with its 2019 “RTNA Freedom of Information Award.” They commended him for stepping up in the worst possible situation, with two simultaneous disasters, to provide critical information.
One of the 12 victims of the shooting, Ventura County Sheriff's Sergeant Ron Helus, was not only a longtime department member but a friend of Dean's, making it even more difficult.
At the RTNA's Golden Mikes awards show in Los Angeles, Dean thanked journalists for treating victims of the recent tragedies with respect, and compassion. He noted the important role of journalists, saying we can't have a free democracy without a free press.
