Governor's Medal of Valor-Past Honorees

Sgt. Daniel Snook (11351), South Sacramento
Officer Michael Terry (14282), South Sacramento

On September 10, 2001, Sergeant Snook and Officer Terry rescued an officer who had been wounded by a suspect with an AK-47 assault rifle, sawed-off shotgun and a pistol. The officers were engaged in a shootout with a man who had just murdered five security guards. They provided cover fire to protect the lives of other law enforcement officers and citizens who were caught in the crossfire.

Officer Melissa Handley (14701), South Los Angeles

Officer Handley, on November 4, 2001, pulled a crash victim from the path of a speeding vehicle. As the victim was walking toward Handley, a pickup truck went into an uncontrolled skid. She exited her patrol car, grabbed the victim and pulled her from her feet and away from danger. The truck narrowly missed both of them, collided with the open patrol car door and slammed into the disabled vehicle.

Officer Peter Kensinger (16020), South Los Angeles
Officer Paul Yonezawa (13621), South Los Angeles

On November 10, 2001, Officers Kensinger and Yonezawa rescued two injured sheriff's deputies from a burning patrol vehicle. While making a DUI arrest, the officers observed two sheriff's patrol vehicles collide in a nearby intersection. Occupants in one of the vehicles were able to exit safely, but the second vehicle's doors were jammed and it was filling with smoke. Kensinger was able to pull the driver to safety through an open window. Yonezawa broke the passenger side window with his flashlight and dragged the second deputy from the vehicle. Moments later, the passenger compartment was completely engulfed in

Officer John Mattox (7089), Southern Division

Officer Mattox, on February 5, 2002, prevented the attack of two elderly women by three armed gang members. While off-duty, he observed three male individuals dressed in gang attire stalking two elderly women. He called out a warning to the women and deliberately directed the gang members' attention toward himself. The gang leader yelled threats and brandished a semi-automatic 9mm handgun. Mattox wounded the suspect, who was later arrested along with his accomplices after a massive manhunt and pursuit. The safety of the intended victims and the apprehension of the violent gang members all hinged on the courageous actions of Mattox.

Sgt. Stephan Neumann (11431), El Cajon

On March 2, 2002, Sergeant Neumann attempted to save a driver who had been pinned inside his burning vehicle. While off duty, Neumann observed a head-on collision. As one of the vehicles began burning he attempted to extract the driver whose feet and legs were trapped under the dashboard. Neumann was finally driven out of the vehicle by the fire and suffered second degree burns as a result of his courageous efforts.

Officer Aaron Gilliland (15651), Barstow

Officer Gilliland, on June 19, 2002, rescued an elderly victim from a burning vehicle. After observing a vehicle overturn and burst into flames, He assisted the driver to safety. He then returned to the vehicle and, with flames scorching his uniform and singeing his hair, he freed the trapped 70-year-old passenger's leg and pulled her to safety. Within seconds of this rescue, the vehicle was completely engulfed in flames.

Officer Henry Guerrero (10091), Indio

Officer Guerrero, on July 3, 2002 rescued an elderly victim clinging to the roof of her overturned vehicle in the strong current of an irrigation canal. While waiting for the water rescue team, Officer Guerrero observed the 83-year-old victim growing weaker as the strong current washed over and around her. Realizing she was not going to be able to continue holding on, he tied himself to a rope and CHP officers lowered him over the downstream side of the bridge where he was able to swing back and forth until he grasped the woman and pulled her to safety.

Sgt. Lynne Blum (11222), West Los Angeles
Officer Troy King (16665), West Los Angeles

On August 22, 2002, Sergeant Blum and Officer King rescued a victim from a burning vehicle. The victim was trapped in his pickup truck as fire began to enter through the firewall around his feet. With flames raging around them from the engine compartment and melting dashboard, Blum and King were finally able to free the driver and remove him from the vehicle just as the passenger compartment became fully engulfed in flames.

Sgt. Randy Nethery (13359), Solano

Sergeant Nethery, on December 4, 2002, stopped an armed suspect from committing a bank robbery. The off-duty sergeant, without a cell phone to call 9-1-1, followed an erratically driven vehicle down the highway and into a town where the driver stopped the vehicle in a bank parking lot. The inebriated suspect exited the vehicle, with a concealed large handgun in his waistband and walked into the bank. Nethery followed the suspect into the bank, and while he was engaged in conversation with the teller, the sergeant rushed him and wrestled him to the ground. While maintaining a control hold, Nethery identified himself as a CHP sergeant and continued holding the suspect until the local police arrived.

Officer Heraclio Cardenas (17055), El Centro
Officer Jacques Paul Rodriguez (11606), El Centro

On December 19, 2002, Officers Rodriguez and Cardenas attempted to rescue a victim from a burning residence. When the officers overheard a scanner broadcast of a house fire, they responded to the scene and a police sergeant who had been overcome by smoke told them an adult and child were still in the building. With smoke billowing from all sides of the residence, Rodriguez climbed into a bedroom window while Cardenas illuminated the bedroom with his flashlight. Rodriguez made several attempts to pull the child from the bedroom without success. The smoke was causing Rodriguez to be unable to continue. Cardenas had to pull him from the burning residence.
> The two officers then assisted a firefighter rescue the girl. They also helped the fire crew remove other occupants from the building. Three of the five occupants were saved through these efforts.

Officer Kenneth Tyler (16702), Dublin
Officer James Sheeran (16557), Dublin

Officers Tyler and Sheeran, on January 18, 2002, removed an unconscious driver and passenger from a burning vehicle. A solo vehicle struck a signal box which ignited a fire in the vehicle's trunk. The officers observed plumes of smoke and responded to investigate. As a result of the collision, both the driver and passenger were unconscious. Despite the vehicle fire and heavy smoke, Tyler and Sheeran ran to the driver's side and extricated the unconscious driver. As the vehicle filled with thick, heavy smoke and flames, both officers moved the unconscious passenger from the right-front seat, across the driver compartment and out the driver's door. During their successful rescue efforts, Tyler and Sheeran suffered smoke inhalation which required medical treatment.

Officer Brian Brown (15475), West Valley

On January 24, 2003, Officer Brown attempted to rescue a victim from a burning vehicle. He climbed a five foot chain link fence on top of a 10 foot concrete wall to reach a burning vehicle. He placed his body inside the vehicle and attempted to remove the unconscious driver who was trapped. He made several attempts as the fire spread into the passenger compartment and began to engulf the car. Finally the smoke and heat became too intense and Brown was forced to discontinue his rescue efforts.

Sgt. Donald Jordan (10516), Yreka
Officer Eric Degraffenreid (14983), Yreka

Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid, on January 28, 2003 successfully rescued a citizen from a burning vehicle. When they encountered the overturned vehicle, Jordan and Degraffenreid spoke with the injured and disoriented driver who told them his 67-year-old wife was still in the burning vehicle. They rushed to the vehicle as flames spread throughout the engine and passenger compartment. The seriously injured and disoriented victim could not free herself. Because of the awkward angle of the overturned vehicle, both officers were forced to expose their hands and forearms to the flames in order to free the victim.
Just prior to the point where rescue would have been impossible due to the rapidly encroaching flames, they managed to pull the victim out of and away from the vehicle. A moment later the vehicle exploded into flames and set a nearby building on fire.

On April 2, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officers Chris Harris, Austin Matulonis, and Mark Pope, combined efforts and rescued Farhid Ajir from jumping from the San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge. Officers Harris and Matulonis simultaneously rappelled onto the beam and advanced toward Mr. Ajir from opposite directions. Both officers were met with violent resistance by the unsecured subject at which time Officer Pope rappelled to their location to assist the struggling trio. A non-lethal bean bag round was fired at the suicidal subject from a fourth officer which provided sufficient distraction allowing Officers Harris, Matulonis, and Pope to successfully subdue Mr. Ajir and secure his safety.

On January 2, 2005, California Highway Patrol Officer Julian Irigoyen, with the help of Mr. Nicks, rescued Bonnie Hanson and her daughter from drowning in a swift moving canal. Officer Irigoyen proceeded down the steep moss covered canal bank towards the victims and observed Mr. Nicks lying on his stomach, stretched across a foot bridge, holding onto the arms of two females struggling to stay afloat. Officer Irigoyen took hold of Ms. Hanson's daughter and pulled her to safety. He then returned to the canal to assist Mr. Nicks with the rescue efforts of Ms. Hanson.

On September 12, 2004, off duty California Highway Patrol Officer Kevin H. Berg rescued Ms. Walker who was trapped inside her vehicle being attacked by a dog. Officer Berg heard an unusual screaming sound coming from within a vehicle in the parking lot. As he neared the SUV he saw Ms. Walker sprawled on the driver's floorboard and front seat with her right arm clutched in the jaws of a dog. He entered the SUV through the rear hatch and grabbed hold of the dog's leash and pulled the dog off of Ms. Walker holding the dog at bay against the rear seat of the SUV as Fort Bragg Police removed Ms. Walker from the vehicle. The dog then turned and began to attack Officer Berg. A Fort Bragg police officer pepper sprayed the dog and utilized an electrical tazer to stop the attack and allow Officer Berg time to exit the vehicle. Ms. Walker's life and arm were saved as a result.

On August 12, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officer Jay McPeek rescued a victim from a tractor-trailer combination that had been involved in a traffic collision and subsequently caught fire. Officer McPeek made an attempt to rescue the trapped driver from inside the smoke filled cab on three occasions before the driver crawled free from the tractor through a damaged rear wall of the sleeper berth and into the trailer through a hole caused by the shifted load. Officer McPeek followed the dazed driver into the flame and smoke filled trailer and removed him to safety.

On May 3, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officer Willard O'Diear risked his personal safety to fire at a violent suspect that had engaged law enforcement officials in an ongoing pursuit and combat shooting. The suspect ambushed a roadblock and pinned Deputy Fred Filyau inside his patrol vehicle with semi-automatic rifle fire. Officer O'Diear swiftly and courageously left the safety of his cover and fired at the suspect, providing Deputy Filyau time to safely remove himself from the patrol vehicle.

On October 15, 2003, California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Conner saved the life of Matthew Shanley as he was being assaulted with a deadly weapon during an attempted carjacking. Officer Conner was advised of an armed robber in the area and soon located the subject at the rear of a nearby restaurant. When Officer Conner located the subject, he was in the process of assaulting and carjacking Mr. Shanley. Officer Conner's efforts to intervene in the carjacking were initially ignored. When the suspect pointed his pistol at Officer Conner, Mr. Shanley began wrestling with the suspect for control of the weapon. Fearing for Mr. Shanley's safety as well as his own, Officer Conner fired 12 lethal rounds at the suspect.

On January 10, 2005, California Highway Patrol Officer David Kajiwara, performed an act of heroism at risk to his personal safety in the rescue attempts of numerous individuals trapped by a major landslide in the community of La Conchita. Officer Kajiwara responded to a major landslide in the beach community of La Conchita. Officer Kajiwara, without hesitation and fully aware of the dangers of an additional landslide, responded on Ventura County Fire unit 155 to Zelzah Avenue, arriving several minutes after the landslide occurred. Officer Kajiwara immediately became aware of additional extreme hazards in the area when he smelled natural gas and saw downed high voltage power lines. Additionally, the destroyed homes structures could be heard cracking and he could see mud flowing down Zelzah Avenue. Officer Kajiwara heard the screams of trapped women in the rubble of what appeared to be several collapsed residences, which were on top of each other. Realizing it would be some time before enough debris could be moved to reach the trapped women; Officer Kajiwara with the assistance of the firemen began digging toward the women. Believing there might be additional persons trapped Officer Kajiwara searched the interiors of two badly damaged homes. Officer Kajiwara attempted to enter a third destroyed home, but it was too badly crushed to find an entry point. When he was satisfied there were no additional victims trapped, Officer Kajiwara returned to assist the firemen with the trapped women. Officer Kajiwara continued assisting Engine 155 digging feverishly with only his hands. After removing a great amount of dirt and debris, the rescuers were eventually successful in freeing one of the women. Officer Kajiwara continued his rescue attempts for the second woman until it appeared that the rescuers might cause the whole unstable building to fall on the trapped victim. The second woman was eventually rescued after heavy equipment and specialized urban search and rescue equipment arrived hours later. Officer Kajiwara remained on scene for several hours assisting until the arrival of trained rescue personnel allowing Officer Kajiwara to be relieved. The State of California takes great pride in presenting Officer David Kajiwara the highest honor within its power to bestow upon one of its employees: this Citation and Medal of Valor for an extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the call of duty or service.

On January 10, 2005, California Highway Patrol Officer Matthew Winter assisted in the rescue attempts of numerous individuals trapped by a major landslide in the community of La Conchita. Officer Winter ignored the danger and ran into a neighborhood devastated by the landslide. He first located an injured male with a minor head laceration. After providing first aid efforts, he continued toward the landslide and encountered three more people; one with a fractured leg, and directed them toward a safe area. Officer Winter smelled natural gas and could hear a high pitched hissing sound as it escaped. After digging through rubble, Officer Winter located the leak below ground and stopped the flow by plugging it with a wooden stick. Officer Winter then entered a damaged and unstable home and began removing debris trying to rescue a buried woman. Officer Winter continued to work with two other rescuers in gaining access to the victim, who was eventually removed from the rubble. Officer Winter remained on-scene, assisting victims until the arrival of additional rescue personnel.

On January 10, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officer Jason Peavy attempted to rescue a victim from a vehicle submersed in the near freezing waters of the California Aqueduct.  Officer Peavy was advised by a citizen of a serious accident involving a vehicle which had left the road and come to rest in the murky waters of the California Aqueduct with the driver still inside the vehicle.  Officer Peavy quickly improvised a life line out of two 50 foot lengths of rope which he tied one end to a pole and the other to himself.  After removing his gun belt, boots, and ballistic vest, he dove into the ice cold, swift moving Aqueduct water.  Officer Peavy made two unsuccessful dives into the water in an attempt to rescue the submerged driver before being pulled to safety by another CHP officer.

On September 17, 2003, California Highway Patrol Officers Rene Galindo and Kevin Austin rescued a suicidal subject from a freeway over crossing.  As Officer Galindo arrived, he observed the lone female standing on a two-inch ledge, clinging to the north edge of the freeway, directly over the traffic lanes.  Officer Galindo used the height of his enforcement truck's camper shell as a rescue platform, positioning it directly above her location on SR-91 next to the concrete barrier separating him from the suicidal subject.  He then climbed onto the shell of the enforcement truck and leaned over the wall above the subject and used his left hand to steady himself on the wall and his right hand to grab the female's clothing.  Officer Austin soon joined him and while hanging dangerously over the concrete wall took hold of the subject's hair and flailing arm.  Together Officers Galindo and Austin pulled the subject to safety.

On July 21, 2005, California Highway Patrol Sergeant Kirk Van Orsdel apprehended a violent criminal after several combat shootings. Sergeant Kirk Van Orsdel located a vehicle involved in a road rage incident and upon stopping the vehicle was immediately fired upon with a high powered, fully automatic AK-47 assault rifle. After a short evasion, the suspect stopped on the freeway and engaged Sergeant Van Orsdel in a second exchange of gunfire. After the exchange of gunfire, the suspect traveled the wrong way on the freeway and used an entrance ramp to exit to the city streets. Sergeant Van Orsdel followed in reverse on the shoulder. Once Sergeant Van Orsdel arrived on the city streets, he was ambushed by the suspect who was hiding behind a concrete guard rail. The Sergeant responded to the attack and returned fire upon the assailant. The suspect re-entered his car and fled the scene. Sergeant Van Orsdel was confronted by the suspect at a final location where Sergeant Van Orsdel was suddenly fired upon and trapped inside the patrol car. As Sergeant Van Orsdel laid across the seat to avoid being shot, he retrieved his rifle. He started firing at the suspect allowing himself time to exit the patrol car and re-engage the suspect in battle. The suspect was incapacitated and taken into custody. The Sergeant's actions during the ongoing pursuit and multiple engagements in gunfire were responsible for preserving his own life and saving the lives of several people.

On August 28, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officer Jon Kitamura performed an act of heroism at risk to his personal safety by rescuing four people from a burning vehicle. At approximately 10:15 a.m., while off-duty, Officer Kitamura of the Solano Area encountered a solo vehicle collision on northbound State Route 45, south of Grimes Boat Landing. The vehicle had impacted a tree adjacent to the roadway, causing all the vehicles doors to be inoperable. The collision also caused the vehicle to catch on fire. The vehicle driver was able to exit the vehicle, but was bloodied and dazed. Four other adult passengers, however, remained trapped in the vehicle in a semi-conscious state. Upon encountering the vehicle, Officer Kitamura directed the dazed driver to a position of safety away from the vehicle. Officer Kitamura then assisted the left-rear passenger, Desiree O. Lopez, from the vehicle via the drivers side window. Officer Kitamura utilized an axe supplied by a neighbor to break the rear vehicle window to gain access to the remaining passengers. Officer Kitamura entered the burning, smoke-filled vehicle, dragged the rear passengers over the rear seat, pulled them through the rear window, and placed them outside the vehicle. Although the fire had spread to the passenger compartment, Officer Kitamura remained in the burning vehicle, climbing over the front seat to access the right-front passenger. Officer Kitamura dragged one passenger to the rear window and pulled him out to a position of safety. Approximately one minute after the removal of all the vehicles occupants, the vehicle became totally engulfed in fire. After removing the victims Officer Kitamura remained on-scene, utilizing his emergency medical training to triage the victims prior to the emergency personnel arriving at the scene. He also convinced two of the victims, who had outstanding warrants, to remain at the scene. The State of California takes great pride in presenting Officer Jon Kitamura the highest honor within its power to bestow upon one of its employees: this Citation and Medal of Valor for an extraordinary act of heroism extending far above and beyond the call of duty or service.

On April 16, 2003, California Highway Patrol Officer Raymond Faulk prevented a suicidal subject from jumping to her death from a freeway over crossing.  Officer Faulk observed a suspicious subject on an over crossing staring at the traffic below.  He exited the freeway to observe the subject.  After several minutes she placed one leg over the bridge rail.  As Officer Faulk approached the subject, she placed her other leg over the edge and began lowering herself toward the freeway below.  Officer Faulk quickly lunged for the subject, took hold of her under her arms, and pulled her back over the wall to safety.  Officer Faulk was then able to subdue her until assistance arrived.

On August 8, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officers Christopher Mode and Ericson Sherwood rescued Jordan Marques from a burning vehicle.  After observing a vehicle being driven in a reckless manner, Officers Mode and Sherwood attempted an enforcement stop.  The driver failed to yield and fled the scene at a high rate of speed.  The driver eventually lost control of the car, veered off the roadway, down a dirt embankment, and collided with a power pole. The collision knocked electrical wires loose and ignited a fire in the vehicle's engine compartment and surrounding dry grass.  Officers Mode and Sherwood moved quickly to extricate the driver who was pinned in the burning vehicle.  The officers removed the suspect from the vehicle just as the interior ignited, saving his life.

On January 12, 2004, California Highway Patrol Officer Russell D. Carver rescued David Bush from a burning vehicle.  Mr. Bush lost control of his car which left the roadway, struck a large boulder, overturned and burst into flames.  Officer Carver worked hard to extricate the six-foot, three-inch, three hundred pound occupant, who was suspended upside down by his jammed seatbelt.  As flames ignited the interior of the vehicle, Officer Carver cut Mr. Bush's seatbelt and freed him from the vehicle.  The vehicle became fully engulfed in flames soon thereafter.

On October 15, 2003, California Highway Patrol Officer James Gaffney rescued a victim from a burning vehicle.  Officer Gaffney noticed a collision in the southbound lanes of the I-405 freeway with one involved vehicle in flames.  Officer Gaffney attempted to open the jammed driver's door to remove the unconscious driver.  With intense heat and a rapidly increasing fire, Officer Gaffney enlisted help to pull the driver out of the vehicle through the shattered driver's side window.  Despite repeated attempts over several minutes, they were unable to extricate the driver from within the vehicle.  During the rescuers' efforts the gas tank ignited causing flames to rage through the passenger compartment of the vehicle, igniting the driver's arms and back and pushing Officer Gaffney back.  Despite the searing heat and smoke from the flames, Officer Gaffney and the paramedics did not give up, until they finally dislodged the burning driver who later succumbed to his injuries.