Above the Call, Division of Juvenile Justice

Reception honors DJJ Medal of Valor recipients

November 12, 2015

From left are Mark Blaser, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility Superintendent; Assemblymember Travis Allen; Richard Glassman, Ventura Youth Correctional Counselor; Daryl Lee, California Correctional Peace Officers Association; Sean Copeland, Ventura Youth Correctional Counselor; and Mike Minor, Director, Division of Juvenile Justice.

A reception was held recently in Seal Beach to honor CDCR Medal of Valor recipients Richard Glassman and Sean Copeland.

Glassman, who lives in the Seal Beach area, is a youth correctional counselor (YCC) at Ventura Youth Correctional Facility (YCF). In March 2014, he was attacked by several youth who were trying to steal his keys so they could attack another youth. During the chaos, fellow Ventura YCC Sean Copeland, without hesitation or regard for his own safety, jumped in to save Glassman who was by then unconscious.

“We’re very proud of Richard and Sean,” said Ventura YCF Superintendent Mark Blaser. “We’ve always considered ourselves a family.”

At the reception held at the Marina Community Center in Seal Beach, Glassman and Copeland were honored by Assemblymember Travis Allen, Division of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) Director Mike Minor and Blaser.

DJJ staff actions earn Medals of Valor

Last March, Counselor Glassman entered the dayroom to provide a youth access to make a phone call to his mother. He had just locked the youth in the office with a phone when he was struck from behind and from the side.

Medal of Valor honorees Copeland and Glassman with CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard. — From left, Copeland, CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard, and Glassman at the 2015 Medal of Valor Ceremony.

The attackers demanded Counselor Glassman’s keys so they could attack another youth and to possibly escape. Counselor Glassman replied: ‘You’ll have to kill me because you aren’t getting them.’

Other youths joined the attack on Counselor Glassman. He fell backward, hitting his head on a table. Despite being kicked in the head and body, he still refused to relinquish his keys.

Counselor Copeland entered the room and without thought for his own safety, immediately went to Counselor Glassman’s aid. The youths then turned to attacking Copeland. By directing the attack to him, he may have saved Glassman from being killed.

Security personnel then arrived and subdued the assailants.

Counselors Glassman and Copeland acted in the highest CDCR traditions of bravery and unselfish service, according to a statement issued by the department.

Story by Joe Orlando, information officer
Office of Public and Employee Communications

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