May 11, 2001

SAN DIEGO -- The Optimist Club of Allied Gardens yesterday honored five law enforcement officers who helped stop the deadly Santana High School shooting in March.

"These officers brought to a conclusion a terrible tragedy and no doubt saved many, many lives," said club member Wayne Bailey, a retired county sheriff's captain.

The club, observing Respect for Law Week, recognized Santee sheriff's Deputies Pat Byrne, Howard Kluge, Ali Perez and Jack Smith and San Diego police Officer Robert Clark.

The four deputies and Clark, who was off duty and on campus registering his daughter for school, apprehended a 15-year-old boy less than six minutes after the first 911 call was received.

"I think he's a very brave man," Ryli Perez, 9, said of his father. "He saved a lot of people's lives, and I really am thankful that he did that for us."