Police Officer Joshua Cummings and Fire Captain Dallas Higgins were recognized for their outstanding efforts to safeguard the College Area and surrounding Mid-City neighborhoods. They are seen here with Jefferey Nguyen, the College Area’s representative from Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s office, Julie Hamilton, the president of the College Area Community Council, and Fatima Maciel, the District 9 representative for Mayor Todd Gloria. (Photo by Karen Austin)
Representatives of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, San Diego Police Department and San Diego State University Police Department were recently invited to an event in their honor.
College Area community members wanted to thank them for their many contributions to public safety, including the incredible multi-agency response to evacuate impacted neighborhoods and ultimately control the nearly 40-acre Montezuma Fire on Halloween, 2024.
The inaugural First Responders Appreciation Day was primarily planned by College Area Community Council President Julie Hamilton and other board members.
“College Area is a unique and special part of San Diego with the commingling of San Diego State University students and full-time residents. The College Area Community Council, with its participating organizations and residents, always tries to work with and support our first responders who do a great job of maintaining the peace and keeping us all safe. This event was our way of thanking all the first responders who take such good care of our community.”
Approximately 30 first responders were able to attend the late-afternoon festivities, which included a welcome by Hamilton and messages from District 9 Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera, SDFD Battalion Chief Craig Newell, SDPD Captain Martha Sainz, SDSU-PD Assistant Chief Hank Turner, and Fatima Maciel, the District 9 Representative for Mayor Todd Gloria.
Elo-Rivera took part in the event to personally recognize the critical work of firefighters, police officers and other first responders.
“While there are many components to creating a safe community, first responders are essential,” Elo-Rivera said. “That is why it is so important to share our appreciation with the public servants who rush toward emergencies to save lives and toward danger. Time and again, I’ve seen how important the work of our first responders is.
“No moment provided me a better vantage point for the importance of that work than during the Montezuma Fire last October. Firefighters rushed to a blazing canyon and coordinated with partners from around the region, police officers rushed to get neighbors safely out of their homes. It was a special moment when the curtains were pulled back and I was amazed by what I saw in the best of ways.”
Two first responders honored
Two first responders were acknowledged for their significant personal efforts to safeguard the College Area and surrounding Mid-City neighborhoods.
They were each presented with a special Mayoral Certificate of Recognition, as well as a City Council Proclamation, declaring June 26, 2025, as Joshua Cummings Day and Dallas Higgins Day.
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Cummings works out of the Mid-City Police Station.
He has served with commitment and compassion as a police officer for more than 11 years. He previously served as a United States Marine for more than 20 years.
In his current role as a community relations officer, Cummings works with residents, business owners and others to address neighborhood issues and create opportunities to enhance public safety.
One way he does this is by leading the Mid-City Homeless Coalition which meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at the police station on Landis Street.
He brings together staff members from city departments such as Environmental Services and Parks & Recreation, leaders of community-based organizations including PATH (People Assisting the Homeless) and Fire Safe Councils, as well as local residents.
They give monthly updates, discuss gaps in services for unhoused community members and work to lessen the risks associated with encampments in canyon setting, which include fires being ignited.
Due to Officer Cummings’ efforts, the businesses along El Cajon Boulevard are working with community members to improve neighborhood safety.
Higgins has served the fire department for more than 18 years and has a history of quick thinking and heroic actions.
For six years, he has worked out of Station 17 on Chamoune Avenue.
Higgins was the first captain on-scene at the Montezuma Fire and is credited for his fast action to begin mobilizing what would become an 18-agency response to save lives and properties.
His deep knowledge of the neighborhoods he serves helped him recognize the explosive potential of the fire in a palm grove along Montezuma Road between Fairmount Avenue and Collwood Boulevard.
He quickly upgraded the department’s response and immediately asked for Cal Fire support to drop retardant to minimize fire spread. Captain Higgins also received a Medal of Valor in 2016, for rescuing two children from a house fire in Mt. Hope.
Congratulations to both award recipients and a big thank you to all the other first responders who answer the call to serve in the city of San Diego.
Donors made the Appreciate Day event possible
First responders and other community members who attended this event enjoyed a taco bar, pad Thai, pizza, Greek salad and many other choices.
The food was donated by local College Area restaurants, including Carnitas Uruapan, Cheba Hut, Corbin’s Q, Dirty Birds, Eureka, Garden Fresh, Keg N Bottle, Milo’s Pizzeria, Penelope’s Mexican Food, Sala Thai, San Diego Blenders, and neighborhood newcomer, Sci-Eats.
Other event donors were: Hanken Cono Assad & Co., Featheringill Mortuary, Friends of the College-Rolando Library, San Diego County Credit Union, F54 Campus Plaza and IQ Graphics.
Each of these businesses is located within the College Area Business District. The College Area Community Council expresses its appreciation to each of these event donors.
Karen Austin serves on the CACC Board of Directors and is the representative for Alvarado Estates, one of six identified neighborhoods in the College Area. The others are Baja, College Area Triangle, College View Estates, El Cerrito, and Mesa Colony.