PHOTO: Schwarzenegger honors El Segundo officers

Transcript of Governor Schwarzenegger Awarding Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor to Six Law Enforcement Officers

Time: 11:45 a.m.
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2009

Event: Remarks, Medal of Valor Ceremony, Council Room, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA

OFFICER MATTOS:

Good morning and welcome. My name is Rick Mattos, I'm an officer with California Highway Patrol, President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and chairman of the Medal of Valor Review Board.

I'm pleased to be able to pay tribute to our honorees and to all of the men and women in public safety who risk all to protect the people of this state.

Please stand while we post the colors and remain standing for the pledge of allegiance.

(Pledge of Allegiance)

Thank you. Be seated.

I'd like to introduce Dean DeAscentis from the California Highway Patrol who will give the invocation.

OFFICER DEASCENTIS:

Please join with me.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day that you have made. Thank you, Lord, for the people that have taken time out of their busy schedules to here to honor these recipients. Lord, we enjoy many examples of service shown by public servants every day throughout this great state and Lord we take this time to honor these extraordinary examples. We ask your blessings and protection on these recipients and their families. Lord, we ask for your blessings on this day and ask your blessings on all our brothers and sisters in public safety throughout our state. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

OFFICER MATTOS:

I'd like to welcome Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Attorney General Jerry Brown, the heads of the honor departments and of course the honorees and their families and guests.

On January 1, 2003 the Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor Act became part of California's Government Code. The Act authorizes the Governor to award a Medal of Valor to those individuals cited by the Attorney General for exemplary acts of valor above and beyond the call of duty.

Once each year the board meets to discuss those acts submitted to us for review. The Government Code specifies the makeup of the board which is form a broad spectrum of public safety associations.

This year's committee is comprised of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen of which I am the president, the California Fire Chiefs Association representing EMTs and paramedics represented by Sabina Imrie, this board's vice chairman, Ron Cottingham from the Police Officers Research Association of California, Alan Barcelona from the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association. California Peace Officers Association represented by JP Badel. Don Benganez from the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, Don Petersen from the California Police Chiefs Association, Steve Dufor from the California State Sheriffs Association and Jeffery Loveland from the California State Firefighters Association.

This year from the scores of selfless acts of heroism we chose six to submit to the Attorney General. The acts were notable in that in each case a clear choice was made by the individuals to place their safety second to performing their duty to the public. We submitted our choices to Attorney General Jerry Brown for his review and recommendation to the Governor.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Attorney General of the State of California, Jerry Brown. (Applause)

ATTORNEY GENERAL BROWN:

Thank you. It is really a privilege to be here and be part of this ceremony that emphasizes valor and courage and going beyond the call of duty. And those are very important ideas. We are very much concerned with finances and budget and money and all the mundane practicalities but any society in order to maintain itself and to improve has to hold up a standard, a standard to which everyone aspires to but only the very best actually attain.

And this Medal of Valor is what we hold out in front of people. This is what we want. And it's not about what people need. Government is all "what do you need." This is about aspiring to something great.

Valor. It's value, it's courage and those are very, very important ideas and values without which a society goes downhill.

So I can't emphasize enough how important the contributions of these men are and what they mean, what they mean to those whom they work with but also the rest of us. We need to have exemplars. We need heroes out in front and that's the whole purpose of this process and this ceremony, to set before us the example of courage giving us the same kind of energy and inspiration to do our work with more umph and more commitment and more dedication and, yes, when called upon with courage.

So congratulations. You've done great work. Thank you. (Applause)

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

The Attorney General was supposed to introduce me but he forgot so I'm introducing myself. I'm Arnold Schwarzenshriver and I'm happy to be here today.

It is wonderful, as I think the Attorney General already mentioned, to be here on this very special day and to celebrate the bravest of the brave.

I think that I am the first governor that really is handing out those medals. We started in 2004, even though the law was signed by Gray Davis, our previous governor and we want to thank him for that. And so since then we have had this tradition of handing out the medals to very brave people. And presenting the Medal of Valor is one of the most exciting things that I get to do during the year even though this is a very exciting job and a very challenging job, I can tell you that.

But I get to meet all the real heroes because in my previous life I met all the action heroes from the movies but these are the real heroes and these are heroes that are facing real fires, real bullets, real car chases and real action and real danger. And this is why I just love the kind of work that you guys are doing and I think the Attorney General is right, you guys are true heroes and you are inspirations.

I'm in awe of these six people and heroes that we are celebrating here today because they are risking their own lives in order to really save other people's lives. And there are many instances like that. I mean, if you just think about the kind of stuff that these officers have done.

Just to give you an example, one plucked a child from a window while under fire. Two of the officers saved a couple whose car was running down the hillside and they jumped into action and saved this couple. I think the couple is here, right here sitting in front here to say thank you to those officers. It's great to have you here at the Capitol. And two officers pursued a viscous attacker even after being shot.

Now, this is extraordinary when you just think about this kind of action. And one of them rescued an injured fellow officer while under fire. And like I said, when I say under fire, it's real fire not just make-believe fire. This is real action, that's heroism.

Each of you receive the Medal of Valor. Really what you represent basically is what is so great about America and what is so great, what makes also California so great, which is strength.

We are talking about not just muscle strength but physical and mental strength, compassion for those you serve, commitment to the job and to each other and character, which is a quality of course that you can't buy, that you can't learn, it's something that you have, character. And this is what you display every day on your job, character.

So to each of the medal winners, we want to say thank you on behalf of the people of California and of all Californians.

And I know that the day after you get the medal you will go back home to your community and you will continue your job without adulation, without applause, without the medals and without any of those things.

But I just want you to know that for us you always will be a great, great inspiration every single day so just remember that.

So thank you very much for the great work and now there is someone coming out and giving us the details of what each one of these officers -- you're going to do that, right? Great. So you're going to give us the details of what each officer did and then the Attorney General and I will be standing here and handing out the medals. Okay. So thank you very much. (Applause)

OFFICER MATTOS:

I now have the honor of calling out the recipients of the 2009 Governors Public Safety Medal of Valor to receive their award.

Officer Roger Smith, California Highway Patrol. (Applause)

On December 2nd, 2008, CHP Officer David Madrigal and Tehama County Sheriff Deputies Charles Dada and Robert Hopton responded to the call of a domestic dispute.

As they pulled up in the driveway in front of the home the suspect started firing on them. As they exited their vehicles and took cover Officer Madrigal was struck in the right leg partially severing the femoral artery. Because of the location Officer Madrigal's calls for help could not be heard by CHP dispatch.

Officer Smith in the area heard the radio calls and immediately responded relaying the information to Redding Communication Center. Officer Madrigal advised Smith that he was pinned down by fire from the suspect, was bleeding profusely and starting to feel faint.

Officer Smith, realizing the necessity and urgency of the situation, drove his vehicle into the hot scene and with the assistance of Tehama Deputy Cherry excavated the gravely injured Officer Madrigal and drove to awaiting medical personnel.

Ladies and gentlemen, Officer Roger Smith. (Applause)

Today we also have with us Dave and Cory Madrigal, too.

Lt. Raymond Garcia and Officer Scott O'Connor from El Segundo Police Department.

On April 11th, 2008, Lt. Garcia and Officer O'Connor were on duty in the lobby of a crowded movie theater. The manager drew their attention to a disruptive patron. When they confronted the person they did not know he was a parolee with a long history of violent crimes and weapons violations. The suspect pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired barely missing Officer O'Connor but striking Officer Garcia in the face. Officer O'Connor tackled the suspect and they fell to the ground. The suspect continued to fire and struck Officer O'Connor in the chest and shoulder at pointblank range.

Amazingly, when the suspect got up and fled both of these men fought through their own injuries to run after them. Aware of the danger to the patrons of the theater, when the suspect again confronted them with his weapon they returned fire until he was incapacitated.

Ladies and gentlemen, Lt. Raymond Garcia (applause) and Officer Scott O'Connor (applause).

Sgt. Dave Peruzzaro, San Mateo Police Department. On November 25th, 2008 San Mateo police were dispatched to the scene of a residential robbery. Upon arrival Sgt. Peruzzaro found that a 24-year-old female and her two children, ages three and one were being held by an armed suspect. As the situation escalated, officers were forced to attempt entry. The suspect fired on them and they were unsuccessful in getting inside. The distraction did allow the hostage to lock the suspect out of the bedroom in which he had taken refuge. As the SWAT team arrived, the victim speaking to negotiators on the phone advised that the suspect was trying to break down the door and that she was going to drop her children from the second floor to safety. Sgt. Peruzzaro and three others climbed to the roof or an armored rescue vehicle which then drove to a position under the bedroom window.

As the mother leaned out of the window Sgt. Peruzzaro took one of the children from her and passed it to the other officers. As the second child was being passed through the window, the suspect began firing into the room. The mother was fatally struck three times while other rounds hit in and around the open window.

Sgt. Peruzzaro held tight to the child as he fell backwards off of the vehicle roof. He twisted his body so as to fall on his back and protect the child. In spite of the great pain he was in and believing he had himself been hit by bullets, Sgt. Peruzzaro got up and ran with the child to safety.

Ladies and gentlemen, Sgt. Dave Peruzzaro. (Applause)

Officer Bryan Paul and Officer Joe Romeo from the Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Department. (Applause)

On October 17th, 2008, at 7:20 in the evening Los Gatos Monte Sereno PD received a call from the Bhandaris, a Los Gatos couple. They had attempted to back their vehicle down the steep driveway of their home located on the hillside of a remote area. The driver accidentally backed off the road and the vehicle slid backwards for a long distance down the hillside. By putting the vehicle in park, applying the emergency brakes and literally standing on the brake pedal he was able to temporarily stop the vehicle's slide. They were still located a long distance from the bottom on an unstable steep slope. The passenger was able to use his cell phone to call 911 for help.

These officers located the vehicle in the darkness and scrambled down the slope without hesitation. They were able to remove the female passenger and get her to a place of safety but the driver could not release pressure on the brake without allowing the vehicle to continue to slide. As the driver grew fatigued, Officer Romeo braced himself and held open the driver's door when Officer Paul leaned in headfirst and applied pressure on the foot brake with his hand. The two officers held this position for 30 minutes while rescue personnel tried to locate them and establish a safe rigging.

As fatigue again set in, the officers came up with an unbelievably daring plan B. Officer Romeo pulled back on the door while the driver put all his strength into pushing the brake again. Officer Paul then squatted on the door sill, took hold of the driver and on the count of three the driver let go of the brake and launched himself toward the door while Officer Romeo propelled them both backwards towards safety. Officer Paul, keeping the door from trapping them, was dragged for approximately 50 feet with the now sliding car. The car continued about 100 feet farther until it crashed into a tree.

Ladies and gentlemen, Officer Bryan Paul (applause) and Officer Joe Romeo (applause).

Today we also have with us Narpat and Chandra Bhandari, the drivers, the people that were rescued. (Applause)

Can we have all the recipients come back up for one more photo?

GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:

Let's give them another round of applause. (Applause)

OFFICER MATTOS:

I'd like to thank again Governor Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Brown for taking time to be here. All you have to do is pick up the paper to know they have a very, very busy schedule. They are both well-known in the public safety community as supporters in our efforts of keeping California safe. I'd also like to thank Dave Gardner, Linda Denly from the Attorney General's office and Don Presley the Boards' legal counsel. Also Tom Sawyer from the Governor's Public Safety Liaison.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the most important groups with us here today. These are the families of those officers. Without the support of our families, none of us in the public safety field could do what we do. They are the ones who send us off each day with the hope that we will return unscathed. They are the true unsung heroes of the public safety system and I applaud them. (Applause)

The men and women of public safety face dangers on a daily basis and perform acts considered by many to be heroic with regularity. The acts cited today have risen above all that and these six individuals are truly the hero's heroes.

Please join me in one last round of applause and thank you for coming today. Thank you. (Applause)