CDCR honors 48 employees at 2011 Medal of Valor

CDCR honored 48 employees at the 2011 Medal of Valor ceremony held in Sacramento. The staff exhibited extraordinary bravery and conduct above and beyond the call of duty, often in lifesaving incidents where public safety was at risk.

48 employees honored for heroic service

Awards were presented by CDCR Secretary Matthew L. Cate and senior department executives at the annual ceremony, which is held at no cost to taxpayers due to sponsorship by the California Correctional Supervisors Organization (CCSO). The awards ranged from the Distinguished Service Award to the exclusive and prestigious Medal of Valor.

In many instances, the recipients saved the life of other officers, inmates or private citizens as they responded to emergencies.

Among the actions recognized by the awards were:

• an unselfish kidney donation that spared the life of a stranger
• quick response that saved the life of three children involved in a car accident
• and decisive action by parole agents in subduing an attacker, preventing harm to juvenile offenders attending a rehabilitation classroom exercise.     

2011 Medal of Valor goes to Lt. Coronado

Lt. Jesus S. Coronado of Calipatria State Prison was awarded the department’s Medal of Valor, the highest award bestowed upon an employee who displays “great courage in the face of immediate life-threatening peril, and with full knowledge of the risk involved.”

While driving home from work, Lt. Coronado saw a large cloud of dust and quickly realized a vehicle had gone off of the road and plunged into the Central Canal.

He saw the vehicle floating toward a dangerous drop off point and despite the danger, Coronado entered the swift-moving water.

As he swam toward the vehicle, he could hear cries for help. Coronado pulled three small children and their mother from the vehicle. He then swam with each – one at a time – to shore, handing them to others who had stopped at the scene.

The responding California Highway Patrol Officer said had it not been for the heroic actions of Lt. Coronado, the lives of the children and their mother would have been lost.

He placed his own personal safety at risk, exemplifying selfless service, bravery and courage, meeting the criteria for the Medal of Valor.

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Complete list of 2011 award recipients

MEDAL OF VALOR

The Medal of Valor is CDCR’s highest award, earned by employees distinguishing themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of correctional service.  The employee shall display great courage in the face of immediate life-threatening peril and with full knowledge of the risk involved.  The act should show professional judgment and not jeopardize operations or the lives of others.

• Correctional Officer Jesus S. Coronado, Calipatria State Prison

GOLD STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Gold) medal is the department’s second-highest award 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.

• Correctional Officer Jose F. Marron, Correctional Training Facility, Soledad
• Parole Agent Margarita R. Montoya-Ortiz, Bakersfield Juvenile Parole Office

SILVER STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Silver) medal is the department’s third-highest award for acts of bravery under extraordinary or unusual circumstances.  The employee shall display courage in the face of potential peril while saving or attempting to save the life of another person or distinguish themselves by performing in stressful situations with exceptional tactics or judgment.

• Assistant Supervising Parole Agent Lisa Aceves, Bakersfield Juvenile Parole Office
• Correctional Lieutenant Jeremy W. Austin, Mule Creek State Prison
• Special Agent Michael L. Brodie, Office of Correctional Safety
• Correctional Officer Jason De La Torre, California State Prison, Los Angeles County
• Correctional Officer Julian V. Garcia, Calipatria State Prison
• Clinical Psychologist Scott Johnson, North Kern State Prison
• Correctional Officer Danny A. Ramirez, Correctional Medical Facility
• Parole Agent Robert D. Story, Parole Region I
• Instructor Danny Trout, Bakersfield Juvenile Parole Office
• Correctional Officer Britt L. Watts, Correctional Medical Facility
• Correctional Officer Mark S. Yates, California Institution for Men

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Bronze) is the department’s award 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

• Licensed Vocational Nurse Anthony Andreola, California Correctional Institution
• Correctional Officer Mannie N. Christensen, Folsom State Prison
• Correctional Sgt. Wade D. Davey, Richard Donovan Training Center
• Correctional Officer Thomas R. Davies, California Correctional Institution
• Correctional Officer German J. Jimenez, Centinela State Prison
• Correctional Lt. Denise M. Laguna, California Out of State Facility
• Correctional Sgt. Caesar V. Padua, Central California Women’s Facility
• Correctional Officer Rebecca Rutledge, Sierra Conservation Camp
• Correctional Lt. Joseph Stewart, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Counselor Crystal M. Wood, California Correctional Institution
• Correctional Sgt. David G. Villegas, Central California Women’s Facility
• Correctional Lt. Michael C. Villegas, Central California Women’s Facility

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

The Distinguished Service Medal is for an employee’s exemplary work conduct with the department for a period of months or years, or involvement in a specific assignment of unusual benefit to the Department.

• Parole Agent Milton J. Chew, Parole Region III
• Statewide K-9 Coordinator Wayne W. Conrad, California State Prison, Solano
• Parole Agent I Martin V. Figueroa, Parole Region II
• Correctional Officer Joseph E. Hartl, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Raphael Heredia, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Parole Agent III George S. Horiuchi, Division of Adult Parole Operations
• Automotive Technician Gary M. Martinez, California Institution for Women
• Correctional Officer Myisha R. Milsap, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Susanne R. Neely, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Arti D. Parmar, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Thomas M. Quezada, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Sergeant Le’Vance A. Quinn, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Simon A. Ramirez, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Chief Deputy Regional Administrator Maritza J. Rodriguez, Region IV
• Parole Agent I Charlotte A. Sullivan, Parole Region II
• Correctional Officer Develyn J. Till, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Carlos E. Villasenor, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Correctional Officer Eric L. Walker, California State Prison, Sacramento
• Parole Agent III Ken H. Wong, Parole Region II
• Correctional Officer Chris B. Wuest, California State Prison, Sacramento

CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

• Lt. Michael Patrick West, North Kern State Prison

CORRECTIONAL PEACE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

• Correctional Officer Christine Boyd, High Desert State Prison

DIRECTOR’S SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

• Correctional Officer Luis Hernandez, Calipatria State Prison

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