2013 Medal of Valor ceremony honors 116

September 20, 2013

CDCR honored 116 employees during the department’s 2013 Medal of Valor Ceremony for extraordinary bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

“CDCR employees statewide are committed to protecting public safety,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard. “Today we are honoring the bravery and performance that goes well above the call of duty. These dedicated employees gave of themselves, and some even placed their own lives in jeopardy to save another.”

Secretary Beard speaks at 2013 Medal of Valor ceremony.

Awards were presented by Secretary Beard and senior department executives at the annual ceremony sponsored by the California Correctional Supervisors Organization.

In many instances, the recipients saved the life of other employees, inmates or private citizens as they responded to emergencies. Among the actions recognized by the awards were quick responses that saved the lives of traffic-accident victims and actions by a parole agent that saved the life of a wounded fellow agent. Also honored was the distinguished service of men and women to CDCR over a period of time.

The awards presented ranged from the Distinguished Service Award to the Gold Star. For the second year, Employee of the Year awards were presented by various divisions within CDCR.

2013 Medal of Valor Employee Recognition Awards

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.

Shaking hands while receiving Gold Star.

Correctional Officer Jason Parkhurst, Ironwood State Prison
Correctional Sgt. Charles Contreras, California Correctional Institution
Parole Agent Henrik Agasyan, California Parole Apprehension Team, Los Angeles

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.

Two people receive silver star medals at Medal of Valor ceremony in 2013.

Correctional Officer Angela Hazewood, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Officer Jeff Gold, Mule Creek State Prison
Correctional Officer Joann Burnias, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and
State Prison, Corcoran
Correctional Counselor Martin Hernandez, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran
Special Agent Steve Epperson, Office of Correctional Safety, Special Service Unit, San Diego
Correctional Lt. Christopher Paris, Office of Correctional Safety, Headquarters
Correctional Lt. Cris Caldwell, Office of Correctional Safety, Headquarters

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.

Correctional Lt. Harold Hughes, Sierra Conservation Center
Parole Agent Michael Williams, Oakland Parole Unit #2
Correctional Sgt. Anthony Morales, Ironwood State Prison
Correctional Sgt. Thomas Quezada, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Officer Jason Murillo, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Sgt. Charles Finnegan, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Sgt. Larry Holloway, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Officer Haydel Mitchell, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Sgt. Larry Dotterman, Ironwood State Prison
Correctional Sgt. Mario Alonzo, Ironwood State Prison
Correctional Officer Cresencio Alpuche, Ironwood State Prison
Correctional Fire Captain Mark Del Barba, Deuel Vocational Institution
Parole Agent Bartolo Siino, Parole Region I, Hanford Unit
Correctional Officer Sandra Copeland, California Correctional Institution

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.

A woman awarded the distinguished service medal.

Dr. Timothy McCarthy, Chief of Mental Health, Pelican Bay State Prison (Posthumously)
Dr. Elaina Jannell, Psychologist, California State Prison, Solano
Dr. Steven Sherman, Clinical Psychologist, N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility
Parole Agent Roger Gold, Redwood City Parole Unit
Parole Agent III Gregory Weber, Redwood City Parole Unit
Correctional Lt. Tom Langford, Folsom State Prison
Parole Agent Beth Bowens, O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility
Special Agent Karen Mory, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent Brian Docherty, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent John Castanedo, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent Jeff Faust, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent Steve Gutierrez, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent Jason Marks, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Special Agent Guillermo Moreno, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Office Technician Gener Santiago, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit
Parole Agent II Gordon Lee, Redwood City Parole Unit

UNIT CITATION

The Unit Citation is for great courage displayed by a departmental unit in the course of conducting an operation in the face of immediate life-threatening circumstances.

California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer (CO) Gabriel Aguilar
CO Joseph Bailey
CO Angela Hazewood
CO Marsell Johnson

Ironwood State Prison

CO Michael Platt
CO Edward Shew
CO Daniel Torres
CO Michael Rivera
Sgt. Michael Smith
CO Saul Lopez
CO Monica Milke
CO Eddie Nunez
CO Hugh McFarlane
CO David Morales
CO Scott Patterson
CO Juan Garcia
CO Tyler Healy
CO Todd Levesque
CO Adam Garvey
CO Rick Jones
CO David Linch
CO Paul Birdsong
Sgt. Larry Dotterman
CO Michael Foster
Sgt. Reginald Burks
CO Dennis Duffield
CO Mark Aguilar
Sgt. Mario Alonzo
CO Rodolfo Alaniz
Sgt. Felipe Alvarez

High Desert State Prison

Lt. Michael Calhoun
Sgt. Gary Turner III
Sgt. Stacie Henley
Sgt. Harold Weaver
Sgt. Bobby Wheeler
Sgt. Charles Hougland
Sgt. Kenneth Harper
Sgt. Richard Kemp
Correctional Counselor Dave Tamplen
CO Oscar Smith
CO Ricardo Cisneros
CO James Whittaker
CO Garrett Giessner
CO Jeff Ammon
CO Troy Parker
CO Terry Barron
CO Jim Herring
CO Bryan Jeanes
CO Johnny Lee
CO Gary Lowry
CO Christopher Nason
CO Cheryl Nichols
CO Michael Oatman
CO Darrel Ulbricht
CO Brian Von Rader
CO Joseph White
CO Jason Harrell
CO Cal Huskey
CO Merle Murchison
CO Robert Rivera
CO Dennis Ruble
CO Greg Watkins
CO Scott Proffer
CO James Kline
CO Bobby Lee
CO Steven Wood
CO Diana Oliva
CO Shayna Robertson
CO Fallon Shelton
CO Devon Rainwater
CO Anthony Pickens
CO Evan Zahniser

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Sirisha Gullapalli, Senior Information Systems Analyst, Enterprise Information Services

MEDICAL/DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Dr. Gregory Tarasoff, Chief Psychiatrist, San Quentin State Prison

REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Carlos Ramirez, Correctional Counselor III, California Institution for Men

DIVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Quincy Elloie, Treatment Team Supervisor, O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility

CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Sergeant Elijah Caron, California State Prison, Sacramento

CORRECTIONAL PEACE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Correctional Officer Eli Davis, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Warden Ronald Rackley, California Health Care Facility, Stockton

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