An Ordinary Man, An Extraordinary Choice: Jason Starlings’ Story

When faced with a life-or-death situation, most of us hope we’d have the courage to act. For Jason Starlings, that moment came on what started as a normal workday—and his response is a testament to empathy, compassion, and strength of character.

While driving his work route in Tucson as a pool service technician at Ambiance Pool Service & Supplies, Jason noticed something unusual: a woman sitting in the middle of the street, motionless, covered in blood. “I thought she’d been hit by a car,” Jason recalled. “And then when I went to grab her and pull her out of the street, she told me she had been shot.”

What he did next was pure instinct. Jason pulled her out of harm’s way, directed bystanders to call 911, and stayed with her until emergency personnel arrived. Jason said, “I’m 50 years old, so I come from a different generation, and it was always the idea, you know, if somebody’s in trouble, get up and do something.”

Jason admits he was frustrated seeing so many cars drive past without stopping. “If people would just get out of their own heads and quit worrying about themselves and worry about the people next to them, we’d be in a whole lot better place,” he said. Jason offered a candid reflection on society saying, “Nowadays people are more concerned with filming it than actually being part of it.”

After the incident, Jason immediately called his supervisors Ken Kingan and Michael Holland. Their response was simple and powerful: “We got you. You do what you need to do.” That kind of support, Jason says, is what makes working at Ambiance different. “They had my back,” he recalled. “They were very supportive.” 

Jason is quick to downplay his role, brushing off the word “hero” with a laugh. “I was just doing what I had to do,” he said. But to those who know the story and saw the video footage, it’s clear he went above and beyond what many others would have done.

Jason is a Tucson native who enjoys road trips with his girlfriend, renovating their yard, and playing video games. When asked if he believes that discovering the woman was fate, Jason put it simply: “I believe that options are put in front of you, and you’ve got to have the strength to take and step into those situations.” Jason’s strength and humility shine through in this moment.  His story is evidence that everyday people can make extraordinary choices. 

This moment reminds us that our values don’t just live on a poster, they live in the people on our team. In his actions, Jason Starlings reflects the heart of who we are and the core values we carry with us every day: staying positive, serving others, and striving to make things better. We are proud to stand beside such incredible team members who remind us that service is about more than pools, it’s about people. In serving others, we discover our true purpose, and this story reminds us exactly why we show up every day.