2009
Medal of Valor Recipients:
CAL FIRE
Jeff
Young, of Clovis, Silver Award: On June
26, 2008, lead a rescue team to save a teenage boy whose leg was trapped by
large boulders.
Stephen
Charles Guarino, of Sacramento, Gold Award:
On October 27, 2008, rescued a man from a burning vehicle.
California Department of
Corrections and Rehabilitation
Christopher
R. Briones, of Blythe, Gold Award: On
October 24, 2008, rescued fellow officers who were injured and being attacked
by inmates during a dining hall melee.
California Highway Patrol
Scott
Woodring, of Atwater, and Adam Yates, of Los Banos, Gold Award: On July 1, 2007, rescued a man from a burning
vehicle.
Matthew
Casey, of Ukiah, Gold Award: On May 13,
2008, attempted to rescue a woman from a burning car.
Robert
Rand, of San Juan Capistrano, Gold Award:
On August 10, 2008, prevented a suicidal woman from jumping off a
bridge.
Joseph
Tronti, of Riverside, Gold Award: On
August 20, 2008, stopped and apprehended an armed man who was shooting at a
group of pedestrians.
John
Lago and Allyn Ball, of Woodland Hills, Gold Award: On September 12, 2008, rescued numerous
victims following the head-on collision of two trains in Southern California.
Michael
Stoney, of San Juan Capistrano, Gold Award:
On October 27, 2008, prevented a suicidal woman from jumping off a
bridge.
Roger
Smith, of Red Bluff, Gold Award: On
December 2, 2008, while under gunfire, saved the life of a CHP Officer injured
by a gunshot wound.
Scott
Hennessy, of Redwood City, Gold Award:
On December 11, 2008, rescued a man from a burning vehicle.
Joshua
Hatfield, of Bakersfield, Gold Award: On
January 9, 2009, attempted to rescue a pregnant woman from a burning pick-up
truck.
Gregory
Houser, Jr., of Atwater, Gold Award: On
February 27, 2009, prevented a suicidal man from jumping off a bridge.
Jack
Rice, of Blythe, and William S. Strom and Joseph A. Zagorski, of Indio, Gold
Award: On March 28, 2009, prevented a
suicidal man from jumping off a bridge.
California Military Department
Cari L.
Beetham and Christopher M. Davis, of San Luis Obispo, Silver and Gold
Award: On June 30, 2008, rescued and provided
life-saving aid to an injured woman trapped in her car on a steep embankment.
California State Parks
James
W. Nothhelfer and Timothy B. Fellars, of Half Moon Bay, Gold Award: On June 22, 2009, rescued six victims from
the ocean when their vessel capsized from rough seas.
Department of Community Services
and Development
Luciano
Venegas, of Sacramento, Gold Award: On
October 12, 2007, prevented possible injuries and a store robbery by
confronting and scaring off a masked, armed robber.
Department of Mental Health
Edward
Dale Bass, Jr., of Patton, Gold Medal:
On March 19, 2009, stopped a distraught, armed man from killing his
family and self.
California Department of
Transportation
Brandon
S. Akers, of San Luis Obispo, Silver Award:
On June 18, 2009, intercepted a medically-distressed driver and provided
a traffic block to prevent further accidents and injuries.
Tracy
Eugene Armstead, of Glendale, Gold Award:
On September 8, 2008, attempted to rescue a suicidal man from drowning.
Dale
William White Jr., of Bakersfield, Gold Award:
On December 18, 2008, pushed two individuals out of the path of a
reckless drunk driver.