VOP Leader Mark Russo Receives City's First Mike Treinen Public Safety Award

Mark Russo, the Team Leader of the Malibu Volunteers on Patrol (VOP), was named the first recipient of the Mike Treinen Public Safety Award at the May 7, 2025, Malibu Public Safety Commission Meeting.

"Mike Treinen was a friend and a true public servant whose impact on Malibu will never be forgotten. Mark Russo, also a friend, embodies that same spirit of service, dedication, and leadership. It is only fitting that he is the first to receive this award honoring Mike's legacy. The City is grateful for Mark's years of volunteer service and proud to recognize his extraordinary contributions to public safety in Malibu."

The award is meant to honor the late Los Angeles County Sheriff's (LASD) Deputy Mike Treinen's legacy and recognize community members who go above and beyond in their dedication to public safety. The Malibu City Council established the annual award based on the recommendation of the Public Safety Commission during its Regular City Council Meeting on April 28, 2025. Russo will receive the award at the May 27, 2025, Regular City Council Meeting.

Deputy Treinen served in the LASD for over 30 years, spending the majority of that time assigned to the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station where he was known to the community and the City Hall as a trusted and skilled partner and friend. Treinen retired in 2020, and his career was marked by many achievements. While Treinen was known within the LASD as a training officer who helped train new deputies, in Malibu, he was best known as the local homeless outreach coordinator. In this capacity, he was known for his successful efforts to provide dignity to people experiencing homelessness in Malibu while enforcing the law and securing housing opportunities for them.

In addition, in 2012, Treinen and another officer, Lt. Jim Royal, were commended after rescuing an 89-year-old woman from a burning building on Little Rock Way in Malibu.

Sadly, on April 6, 2021, the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station announced the untimely death of Deputy Treinen. Following his death, Treinen was described by community members as a "true hero" and a "great man" who was the "heart and soul of the Sheriff's Department." The overwhelming love and respect for Deputy Treinen were demonstrated on April 18, 2021, when hundreds of family members, friends, fellow surfers, first responders, City officials, and community members gathered at Zuma Beach for a paddle-out in his honor. The paddle-out was visited by an LASD helicopter as well as two LA County Lifeguard boats that saluted the longtime public servant.

Mark Russo and his family have lived in Malibu since 2010, and he has served as a VOP for 13 years and as the Team Leader for 12 years. VOPs volunteer a minimum of 16 hours per month performing non-hazardous patrol duties, therefore allowing LASD patrol Deputies to perform the more hazardous duties that they have been trained to do. The Malibu VOPs play a vital support role by providing traffic control after vehicle collisions that require assistance or investigation, while also supplementing parking enforcement. As the Team Leader, Russo is responsible for overall operational and administrative activities, including recruiting, training, and supervising the team.

Russo has responded to countless vehicle collisions in Malibu over the years, providing critical traffic control and helping ensure safety while Deputies manage the immediate scene. During the tragic incident involving the four Pepperdine students in 2023, he and other VOP team members worked through the night and morning, securing the PCH closure and the crime scene.

For more information, contact Susan Dueñas, Public Safety Director at sduenas@malibucity.org or visit the Malibu Public Safety Website.