Calipatria correctional officer receives Medal of Valor
Medal is department's highest honor
(KYMA, KECY) - The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation awarded a Calipatria State Prison Correctional Officer its Medal of Valor Friday.
Calipatria State Prison Correctional Officer Alfred Gascon was awarded the highest award for his bravery and heroism in saving three people's lives.
Officer Gascon found two vehicles severely damaged while driving home from work. The crash trapped one person in the car. A person in the second car appeared unconscious. A third person was missing.
Officer Gascon found the missing passenger in the canal, jumped into the water and pulled out the individual.
The person had severe head injuries and no pulse. Gascon immediately began life-saving measures, and got their beating again. He then attended to the other accident victims.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation honored 98 people at its 2020 Medal of Valor Ceremony. All were recognized for their bravery in responding to life-threatening situations in the line of duty.
“This year’s honorees show that the bravery and professionalism of our staff extends beyond institution walls and into the community. Our employees keep order, ensure safety, encourage rehabilitation and serve the people of California,” CDCR Secretary Ralph Diaz said.
2020 Medal of Valor Honorees
Medal of Valor - The Medal of Valor is the Department’s highest award, earned by employees distinguishing themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of correctional service
- Alfred Gascon, Correctional Officer, Calipatria State Prison
Gold Star Medal Recipients - The Gold Star Medal is awarded for heroic deeds under extraordinary circumstances. The employee shall display courage in the face of immediate peril in acting to save the life of another person.
- Nichele Aguilar, Correctional Officer, California State Prison-Solano
- Robert Dickson, Correctional Officer, California Rehabilitation Center
- Harley Robbins, Correctional Sergeant, Centinela State Prison
Silver Star Medal Recipients - The Silver Star Medal is awarded for acts of bravery under extraordinary or unusual circumstances.
- David Vega, Correctional Sergeant, Office of Peace Officer Standards
- Amanda Duncan, Correctional Officer, Sierra Conservation Center
- Stephen Leach, Correctional Officer, California Health Care Facility
- James Lehman, Psychologist, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison-Corcoran
- Ricardo Ancheta, Correctional Officer, California Men’s Colony
Bronze Star Medal Recipients - The Bronze Star is awarded for saving a life without placing oneself in peril. The employee shall have used proper training and tactics in a professional manner to save, or clearly contribute to saving, the life of another person.
- Alejandro Buenrostro, Correctional Officer, and Chalet Valencia, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
- Frank Hurtado, Parole Agent III; Division of Adult Parole Operations, Escondido 2 Parole Unit
- Renato Benitez-Sanchez, Correctional Officer, California Institution for Men
- Hector A. Lopez, Associate Warden, California Rehabilitation Center
- Albert G. Morales, Correctional Officer; David Willer, Registered Nurse; Daniel Hauck, Associate Governmental Program Analyst; and Nicholas Hernandez II, Correctional Counselor; California Correctional Institution
- Rosalie Cota, Parole Service Associate, Calipatria State Prison
- Kevin Mohrweis, Correctional Officer; Wasco State Prison and Christopher Ponce, Correctional Officer; North Kern State Prison
- Richard Russell, Correctional Counselor II, Supervisor; Andrew Pilati, Correctional Lieutenant; and Michael Nord, Correctional Officer; Sierra Conservation Center
- Daniel Kirk, Correctional Counselor II, Supervisor; Sierra Conservation Center
- Paul Ford, Parole Agent I; Division of Adult Parole Operations, Stockton 2 Parole Unit
- Antoinette Rossi, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Jashaun Banks, Correctional Officer; Karen Gladden, Registered Nurse; Laurie Thomas, Licensed Vocational Nurse; Stuart Lyons, Fire Captain; Avenal State Prison
- Juan Gutierrez, Correctional Sergeant and Alex Alva, Correctional Officer; Central California Women’s Facility
- Fred Moss, Correctional Officer, Central California Women’s Facility
- Tim Orpurt, Correctional Sergeant; Sierra Conservation Center, Vallecito Conservation Camp
- Mark Rosales, Correctional Lieutenant, California State Prison-Los Angeles County
- Samantha Lopez, Medical Assistant and Maunish Sharma, Registered Nurse; Mule Creek State Prison
- Timothy Sanders, Correctional Lieutenant, California State Prison-Corcoran
