Four LVMPD Officers Honored for Compassion After DUI Crash Injured UK Family

Officers Loeffler, Atkinson, Burgueno, and Valeza went far beyond their duties to support a mother, father, and toddler through weeks of intensive care.

Four Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers were honored by the LVMPD Foundation and Resorts World Las Vegas in April for the extraordinary compassion they showed a visiting family from the United Kingdom following a life-threatening DUI-related pedestrian crash on Feb. 8, 2026. Officers Noah Loeffler, Kurt Atkinson, Austin Burgueno, and Jann Valeza received the April Good Ticket Award for weeks of support that went well beyond their assigned duties.

DUI Crash Left UK Family Critically Injured

A suspected DUI driver in a Tesla drove up onto a sidewalk and struck a family visiting Las Vegas from the United Kingdom, according to police. The family — Luke Sadler, Jessica Thomas, and their 2-year-old daughter, Isla Sadler — were hit as pedestrians on Feb. 8, 2026.

Jessica Thomas and Isla Sadler suffered critical, life-threatening injuries and were placed in intensive care. Luke Sadler was also hospitalized as a result of the crash. The driver, Gavin Caci, was subsequently arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

Officers Went Above and Beyond During Recovery

In the days and weeks following the crash, officers from the Convention Center Area Command Community Oriented Policing team took it upon themselves to provide ongoing support to the family. They checked on the family daily while Jessica Thomas and Isla Sadler remained in intensive care, brought meals to Luke Sadler, and provided toys for the toddler as she recovered.

The officers also worked with MGM Signature Towers to help secure an extended hotel stay for the family at no cost, and continued connecting them with resources and guidance throughout the recovery process. Officer Burgueno described the effort as a natural extension of the job. "It's just what we kind of do. And the family especially was genuinely, like, surprised that we were doing all that other stuff," Burgueno said. "And we were just like, this is what we're paid to do, so we're going to hang out with you guys."

LVMPD Foundation and Resorts World Present April Good Ticket Award

The LVMPD Foundation, in partnership with Resorts World Las Vegas, recognized the four officers during its April Good Ticket Award presentation. The honor was specifically tied to what the Foundation described as extraordinary compassion shown to the visiting family in the aftermath of the crash.

As part of the award, Resorts World Las Vegas presented the officers with a staycation package that includes a hotel stay, dining and beverage credit, and entertainment tickets.

Family Returns Home After Remarkable Recovery

The Sadler-Thomas family has since returned home to the United Kingdom following what was described as a remarkable recovery. The family expressed gratitude, saying the officers' compassion helped restore a sense of peace in the aftermath of the crash.

The case drew wider attention after video footage showed the Tesla drifting onto the sidewalk and striking the family in what prosecutors characterized as a hit-and-run incident.

What we know

• The DUI-related pedestrian crash occurred on Feb. 8, 2026, when a suspected DUI driver in a Tesla drove onto a sidewalk and struck the UK family.
• The family members involved were Luke Sadler, Jessica Thomas, and their 2-year-old daughter, Isla Sadler.
• Jessica Thomas and Isla Sadler suffered critical, life-threatening injuries; Luke Sadler was also hospitalized.
• The four officers honored were Noah Loeffler, Kurt Atkinson, Austin Burgueno, and Jann Valeza, all from the Convention Center Area Command Community Oriented Policing team.
• The officers worked with MGM Signature Towers to help secure an extended hotel stay for the family at no cost.
• The driver, Gavin Caci, was arrested and charged in connection with the crash.
• As part of the April Good Ticket Award, Resorts World Las Vegas presented the officers with a staycation package including a hotel stay, dining and beverage credit, and entertainment tickets.
• The family has since returned home to the United Kingdom after what was described as a remarkable recovery.

Why it matters

The recognition highlights how Las Vegas law enforcement officers can shape the experience of visitors during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. For a city whose economy depends heavily on tourism, the story of four officers stepping up to support an injured UK family — securing housing, delivering meals, and providing daily check-ins — reflects a dimension of public safety that extends well beyond crime response. The family's gratitude and their description of a restored sense of peace underscore the lasting impact that officer conduct can have on how Las Vegas is perceived internationally.

What’s next

The family has returned to the United Kingdom and is continuing their recovery. The criminal case against the driver, Gavin Caci, who was arrested and charged following the Feb. 8, 2026 crash, is ongoing. The four honored officers are set to receive their staycation package from Resorts World Las Vegas as part of the April Good Ticket Award.

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