Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award

At its Regular meeting on February 25, 2002, the City Council, acting on a recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Commission, created the Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award in honor of Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Hagop "Jake" Kuredjian. Deputy Kuredjian was killed in the line of duty on August 31, 2001, while he and other law enforcement personnel were engaged in a shootout with a suspect in Stevenson Ranch. Deputy Kuredjian often worked as an Armenian interpreter for the Sheriff's Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the FBI. The Gold Meritorious Conduct Medal was presented to Kuredjian in 1989, for rescuing a woman from a cliff while stationed in Malibu.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Hagop Jake Kuredjian

The Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award is presented annually to recognize those outstanding individuals who give their time and resources to enhance the quality of recreation programs within the Malibu community. Past recipients of this award have demonstrated a commitment and involvement in addressing some aspect of recreation in Malibu, and in doing so demonstrated the highest level of citizenship, making a lasting contribution to the community.

Award Process

The Parks and Recreation Commission accepts nominations for the Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award during the first quarter of each year. Members of the Malibu community are invited to nominate individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to recreation and citizenship.

The Parks and Recreation Commission reviews the nominations received and makes its recommendation to the City Council. Once approved, the award is scheduled to be presented by the Council to the selected nominee at an upcoming Regular City Council meeting. 

Members of the Malibu community are invited to submit an online Nomination Form to nominate individuals who meet the criteria of the Jake Kuredjian Citizenship Award. The 2019 nomination period closed on April 5, 2019.  

Past Award Recipients
2002 Doug O’Brien, Joel Castro, Jill & Harold Smith, Maud Ann Sunderland, and Ron Bloomfield
2004 Jack “Papa Jack” Schultz
2005 Tim Biglow, Danny Klein, and Nick Tidy
2007 Bruce Young, Mike Doyle, James Whalen, and Steve Rodriguez
2008 John Paola
2012 Dermot Stoker
2013 Michael Zweig
2014 Steve Ciniglio
2015 Joan House
2017 Bob Stallings
2018 Mike Mulligan
2018 Justine Petretti