By Jeanine Benca
Contra Costa Times
SAN RAMON, Calif. — Lisa Campbell may have started her life in the Midwest, but she’s the pride of the East Bay now.
On Monday evening, the UC Berkeley police specialist who played a vital role in the capture of Jaycee Dugard’s suspected kidnapper was praised for her efforts in a small ceremony with state and local elected officials.
“This is a true occasion of heroism. It just took the intuition of one officer to recognize that something didn’t look right — that’s the essence of good police work, in my opinion,” said Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.
The event, organized by McNerney’s office and attended by members of the UC Berkeley Police Department, was held at the city council chamber in Campbell’s resident city of San Ramon.
When Campbell told him she was born and raised in Chicago, McNerney added with a laugh, “Well, you’re one of us now.”
Campbell, 40, who manages special events on campus, has received international recognition for following up on her self-described “mother’s intuition” that something “didn’t look right” when she encountered kidnap suspect Phillip Garrido and his two young daughters on the UC Berkeley campus last month.
Alarmed by their peculiar behavior when Garrido showed up Aug. 24 with the two girls in tow, asking for help planning a religious-themed event at the campus, Campbell asked Garrido to come back the next day.
Fellow UC Berkeley police Officer Ally Jacobs, 33, ran a background check on Garrido and learned he was on federal parole for kidnapping and rape.
The women’s suspicions grew even stronger during their sit-down interview with Garrido and the girls the next day. Jacobs then phoned Garrido’s parole officer and advised him to check up on Garrido.
A subsequent meeting with Garrido’s parole officer and Garrido’s wife, daughters and the 29-year-old woman believed to be Dugard led to Garrido’s arrest in connection with Dugard’s 1991 kidnapping.
On Monday, leaders close to the city Campbell now calls home gave her kudos for doing that “little bit extra” that turned out to make a monumental difference in the lives of Dugard and her family.
“As a mom ... I just want to thank you for the job you did, for relying on that ‘mother’s intuition.’ It’s the willingness to do that little extra extra that makes a difference,” said Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan, D-Alamo. “I’m very proud to know you’re a member of our local community.”
Contra Costa County Supervisor Mary Piepho called Campbell’s contribution “profound.”
“That little voice in the back of your head ... you acted upon it, and because of it so many lives have been changed forever. Just that little action changed the world forever. It really is profound,” she said.
Before joining the UC Berkeley Police, Campbell worked as an investigator in Los Angeles and San Diego. She began her career in Chicago, where she gained experience in youth investigations and in the juvenile court and corrections at the Cook County Jail.
San Ramon Mayor H. Abram Wilson presented Campbell with flowers, a city of San Ramon blanket and a plaque.
“Any time, any time, really,” he said, laughing as he handed her the gifts. “We’re just so happy that you chose to make San Ramon your home.”
Campbell, who received a standing ovation, said only a few words to the crowd.
“In my own words, it was a collaboration of great police work that (enabled us) to accomplish something which we had no idea would be so monumental. Thank you — I feel at home.”
Copyright 2009 Contra Costa Times