YEAR IN REVIEW 2004Sergeant Robert V. GuilbaultSergeant Tracy L. PalmerDeputy Ruben R. ArrietaSergeant Steven M. PaulDeputy John R. Broad Jr.Deputy Christopher R. GonzalezYEAR IN REVIEW 2004MEDAL OF VALOR & MERITORIOUS CONDUCT MEDALDeputy Craig R. CalzadaDeputy Jeffrey W. FlotreeDeputy Alej<strong>and</strong>ro SalinasDeputy Gregory R. GutierrezDeputy Gina M. KolowskiDeputy John E. MooreMEDAL OF VALOR & MERITORIOUS CONDUCT MEDALOn April 6, 2002, Norwalk Station deputies <strong>and</strong> Canine Services Detail deputies were confronted by an armed<strong>and</strong> violent ex-convict wanted for murder <strong>and</strong> assault in two other counties. They reacted to a life-threatening situationquickly <strong>and</strong> efficiently, displaying heroism <strong>and</strong> teamwork while facing mortal danger.Sergeants Guilbault <strong>and</strong> Palmer, <strong>and</strong> Deputy Salinas assumed <strong>and</strong> held their positions in the face <strong>of</strong> abarrage <strong>of</strong> bullets from the armed <strong>and</strong> wanted murderer. Deputies Flotree, Calzada, <strong>and</strong> Arrieta exchanged gunfire withthe suspect, allowing their fellow deputies to move to better cover. Their actions kept the suspect occupied <strong>and</strong> haltedthe one-man crime spree.For placing themselves in extreme danger <strong>and</strong> never wavering in their task to save two innocent lives from theharm <strong>of</strong> a gunman’s rampage, Sergeant Steven Paul <strong>and</strong> Deputies John Broad, Chris Gonzalez, Gregory Gutierrez, GinaKolowski, <strong>and</strong> John Moore were awarded the <strong>Meritorious</strong> <strong>Conduct</strong> <strong>Medal</strong>-Silver.For displaying great courage <strong>and</strong> placing themselves in life-threatening peril, while ending the danger to innocentvictims, Sergeants Robert Guilbault <strong>and</strong> Tracy Palmer, <strong>and</strong> Deputies Ruben Arrieta, Craig Calzada,Jeff Flotree, <strong>and</strong> Alej<strong>and</strong>ro Salinas were awarded the Department’s highest award, "The <strong>Medal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Valor</strong>."3839
YEAR IN REVIEW 2004Deputy Rick V. CalderonDeputy Mark C. LeachYEAR IN REVIEW 2004MEDAL OF VALOR & MERITORIOUS CONDUCT MEDALDeputy Kris L. Clevel<strong>and</strong>Deputy David A. PowellDeputy Osvaldo Santa AnaMEDAL OF VALOR & MERITORIOUS CONDUCT MEDALIn the early morning hours <strong>of</strong> March 14, 2002, Deputy Clevel<strong>and</strong> was patrolling the waterfront area near theCity <strong>of</strong> Avalon, Santa Catalina Isl<strong>and</strong>. Across the choppy waters <strong>of</strong> the bay, Deputy Clevel<strong>and</strong> heard a faint, hoarse cryfor help. Exiting his patrol vehicle, Clevel<strong>and</strong> began searching desperately.Shining his light over the brine, he observed someone hanging onto a skiff line, being thrown around by thewater’s chop. Deputy Clevel<strong>and</strong> immediately called for assistance, <strong>and</strong> began stripping <strong>of</strong>f his gun belt <strong>and</strong> his uniformshirt.Entering the sub-50-degree water, Clevel<strong>and</strong> lost sight <strong>of</strong> the victim as ocean swells carried him up <strong>and</strong> down.At the top <strong>of</strong> a swell, Clevel<strong>and</strong> pinpointed the victim’s location <strong>and</strong> reached the man, pulling him back toward the shore.Met by assisting units when they reached dry l<strong>and</strong>, the victim (too weak to st<strong>and</strong> without help) repeated to DeputyClevel<strong>and</strong>, "Thank you. You saved my life."For placing the welfare <strong>of</strong> an elderly victim in immediate danger <strong>of</strong> drowning before his own <strong>and</strong> entering thecold, dark, choppy waters <strong>of</strong> Avalon Bay without hesitation to save another human being, Deputy Kris Clevel<strong>and</strong> wasawarded the <strong>Meritorious</strong> <strong>Conduct</strong> <strong>Medal</strong>-Gold.On May 25, 2002, Lakewood Station deputies were monitoring a Long Beach Police Department stolen vehiclepursuit. After the pursuit had been terminated they heard a collision, drove to the scene, <strong>and</strong> found one <strong>of</strong> the vehicleson fire. One occupant had been ejected, but another had his legs pinned underneath the auto. The Long Beach Officersforced the passenger door apart <strong>and</strong> lifted the vehicle allowing Deputy Powell to extricate the occupant. DeputyCastaneda then administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to the critically injured man.To extricate the driver Deputy Powell, assisted by Long Beach Officers, climbed into the backseat, cut the seatbelt, <strong>and</strong> cleared a path. Deputies Leach, Calderon, <strong>and</strong> Santa Ana reached through the shattered glass <strong>of</strong> the driver’s<strong>and</strong> passenger’s side windows, to assist. Finally, the driver was pulled to safety.For applying CPR to an unconscious, non-breathing car accident victim, Deputy Daniel Castaneda was awardedthe Department’s Lifesaving Award.For risking their lives to save the driver <strong>and</strong> passenger <strong>of</strong> the vehicle Deputies Osvaldo Santa Ana, Mark Leach,<strong>and</strong> Rick Calderon were awarded the <strong>Meritorious</strong> <strong>Conduct</strong> <strong>Medal</strong>-Gold.For twice ignoring the immediate peril to his own safety to assist in saving both trapped occupants,Deputy David Powell was posthumously awarded the <strong>Meritorious</strong> <strong>Conduct</strong> <strong>Medal</strong>-Gold.4041