1986: Employees honored at first Medal of Valor

August 21, 2025

Editor’s note: This Medal of Valor story originally published in the department’s newsletter in 1986. It is republished here, as originally written, as part of the CDCR Time Capsule series.

It was a historic beginning for the Employee Recognition Program as 17 departmental employees were honored at the first Medal of Valor Ceremony on the west steps of the Capitol June 12, 1986.

Over 500 spectators watched as the California Medical Facility Color Guard and Drill Team marched in and presented the flags for the playing of the National Anthem by the Sacramento Union Academy Band.

Youth and Adult Correctional Agency (YACA) Undersecretary Rod Blonien then led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an invocation delivered by Father Dennis Keaney from Folsom State Prison.

YACA Secretary “Chad” Chaderjian welcomed honorees and attendees.

“This is an important day for all of us in corrections. We are officers, parole agents, administrators, teachers, doctors, secretaries, support personnel… and we are proud of our vital role in protecting the public,” he said.

He then praised correctional employees for doing an outstanding job.

“We are gathered here today to honor heroes among heroes,” Chaderjian said. The ceremony honored staff’s heroic actions taken in 1985.

The keynote speaker was Senator Robert Presley, Chairman of the Joint Legislative Committee on Prison Construction and Operations. Senator Presley praised the department for doing an outstanding job at holding the state’s prison system together.

Department Director Dan McCarthy followed the Senator, recalling his days on the front line some 38 years ago.

“My heart has never left the front line, and I get back there whenever I can,” he said.

Ceremony honors all department employees

“This ceremony will not only honor the acts of 17 individuals, but also the daily heroism of 17,000 department employees who protect public safety by managing 94,000 felons,” McCarthy said.

Don Novey, president of the California Correctional Peace Officers Association, praised the department for moving in the direction to help improve employee morale. He then went on to explain each category of the awards program.

After the speeches, three outstanding broadcast journalists took over and called each employee to a position in front of the crowd. Beth Ruyak, Gay Yee and Jennifer Smith from the local NBC, ABC and CBS affiliate stations in Sacramento, then read narratives of their heroic acts.

After each narrative was read, the employees walked through a reception line and received their medallions and certificates. The medallions were pinned on the employees by Jim Gomez, chief deputy director, as the employees then returned to their seats.

Corrections Star-Gold

Terry Reed, Firefighter, California Correctional Institution, Tehachapi

Firefighter Terry Reed responded to a mutual aid call from the Kern County Fire Department Dec. 11, 1985.

He arrived at the scene on a public highway to find a car overturned and three occupants trapped inside. Because of snow and ice, the car was in imminent danger of sliding down a hill.

Reed, forced to remove personal protection gear to enter the vehicle, worked for nearly three hours with other rescuers to free the trapped and unconscious victims. He worked in extremely hazardous conditions as 10 volunteers were required to hold the car in place.

Celso P. Zamudio, Correctional Officer, Correctional Training Facility, Soledad

Responding to a large fight involving more than 150 inmates in a housing unit, Officer Zamudio spotted a group of inmates stabbing and beating an inmate in an adjoining room. Entering the room alone, the officer used his baton to evade several inmates who attempted to stab him. He fought his way to the severely wounded inmate who was profusely bleeding.

Continuing to fend off inmates with the baton, Officer Zamudio used his free hand to stop the bleeding from the inmate’s throat. He carried the inmate to safety when another officer arrived.

Robert E. Hannaford, Correctional Sergeant, Folsom State Prison

Sgt. Hannaford, a fourth-generation corrections employee, was nominated for “Two acts of personal bravery not unique to his career.”

While supervising a Folsom dining room in August, Hannaford saw an inmate drop his food tray and stab another inmate with an eight-inch knife.

Acting alone, Hannaford immediately ran to the fight, pulled the assailant off the victim and disarmed the assailant after a struggle.

While supervising a housing unit in November, Hannaford again witnessed a stabbing assault. Displaying prompt and conspicuous bravery, Hannaford struggled with the assailant and disarmed him.

Corrections Star-Silver

Kenneth Ingalls, Parole Agent, San Diego

Agent Ingalls’ search for a fleeing parolee led him to a house in San Diego. After gaining permission to enter, Ingalls was confronted by the emotionally disturbed parolee. The man was holding a loaded revolver in one hand and a large hunting knife in the other. Using all of his persuasive skills, Ingalls talked the parolee out of committing suicide and into surrendering his weapons. The parolee was taken into custody unharmed. During several tense minutes of negotiation, Ingalls never drew his weapon.

Paul Dickens, Correctional Officer, Correctional Training Facility, Soledad

Responding to a large fight, Officer Dickens saw another officer trapped by several inmates in the unit television room and in desperate need of assistance. Officer Dickens unhesitatingly went to the officer’s aid, becoming a human shield so the trapped officer could carry a grievously wounded inmate to safety.

Tony Di Raffael, Parole Agent, Ventura

Upon learning a paroled child molester was detaining a child in his motel room, Agent Di Raffael quickly reached the motel and entered the room. Caught in the act of molesting the boy, the parolee grabbed a nearby knife and slashed his own throat. Then the parolee advanced threateningly toward the agent. Without the use of force, Agent Di Raffael talked the parolee into surrendering. The parolee is now being prosecuted.

Larry Corby, Correctional Lieutenant, Folsom

Lt. Corby was off duty and driving in the vicinity of Greenback Lane and Illinois Avenue in November when he observed a lone California Highway Patrol officer in a violent physical altercation with a man. Corby stopped his car and ran to the officer’s assistance. The officer, unable to subdue the extremely combative subject, was in danger of serious injury and perhaps death. Corby joined the fight and was able to overcome the suspect. The CHP has commended him for his quick and effective assistance.

Mike Diaz, Medical Technician, Correctional Training Facility, Soledad

Medical Technician Diaz responded to a September disturbance in a housing unit. As Diaz arrived, he could hear shots being fired and was told wounded officers and inmates were scattered throughout the area. Forced to retreat once by gun fire, Diaz maintained a calm and professional demeanor. He immediately re-entered the unit and rendered vital medical aid to several victims, even as the incident continued.

William F. Carmichael, Correctional Officer, San Quentin

In May, Officer Carmichael was escorting an inmate to his cell when the officer was suddenly attacked from behind and knocked to the ground by another inmate. Using an inmate-manufactured knife, the second inmate began stabbing the first. Carmichael jumped up and was confronted by the second inmate who was slashing at him with the eight-inch blade. The officer quickly hit the assailant on the collarbone with his flashlight, disarming him.

Carmichael then wrestled the inmate to the floor and placed him in handcuffs. Carmichael recovered from an unexpected attack to save an inmate’s life.

Corrections Star-Bronze

Stanley Campbell, Correctional Sergeant, California Men’s Colony, San Luis Obispo

Sgt. Stanley Campbell, the institution investigative officer at California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, used his unusually thorough inmate contacts to foil a complex murder-for-hire plot in early 1985.

Campbell conducted a painstaking three-month investigation involving several law enforcement agencies. The probe resulted in convictions for conspiracy to commit murder of the three main conspirators. Campbell’s actions, in the opinions of several superiors, also saved the life of the murder plot target — the 12-year-old son of one of the participants.

Abram Garcilazo, Correctional Officer, California Institution for Men, Chino

Officer Garcilazo entered an office at the prison to find a secretary choking on a piece of food to the point of turning blue.

Garcilazo used the Heimlich maneuver to dislodge the food. The secretary was eating lunch alone and said she had no doubt the officer’s action saved her life.

Edward Thayer, Medical Technician, California Medical Facility, Vacaville

Medical Technician Thayer, responding to a serious traffic accident on a road bordering the prison, found a 3-year-old girl whose vital signs had ceased. Using his CPR training, Thayer revived the young victim.

Distinguished Service Medal

R.N. Coffin, Case Records Manager, Sierra Conservation Center, Jamestown

During an exemplary career of more than a quarter century, Coffin has worked in positions ranging from officer to his current sensitive position of managing thousands of highly technical inmate files. Coffin has garnered numerous citations and commendations for his many special assignments to task forces. In addition to his current duties, Coffin leads the Sierra Negotiations Management Team and the Employee Post Trauma Program. He organized both units working many hours on his own time — typical of his 26 years of dedicated service.

Unit Citation

Steven F. Lucarelli, Correctional Officer
Robert L. Heise, Correctional Officer
Felix C. Theriot, Correctional Officer
Custody staff, Disciplinary Detention Unit, Sierra
Conservation Center, Jamestown

Shortly before 10 a.m. May 16, the custody staff of the Disciplinary Detention Unit learned an inmate armed with a knife had taken an officer hostage just outside of the inmate’s cell. Officer Robert L. Heise approached the inmate, who was holding his knife to the throat of Officer Steven F. Lucarelli.

The inmate then attempted to stab Lucarelli, who deflected the blows. Distracted by Heise, the inmate was shoved backwards into his cell by Lucarelli and disarmed by the two officers. Officer Felix C. Theriot issued the alarm as this was occurring and single-handedly returned all other inmates to their cells to secure the area.

The inmate later said he intended to escape from the prison by using the officer as a hostage and shield.

Richard A. McGee Sr. Memorial Award

The most meaningful award, the Richard A. McGee Sr. Memorial Award, was presented by Director McCarthy to Mrs. Barbara Burchfield, widow of San Quentin Sgt. Howell “Hal” D. Burchfield, who was stabbed to death by an inmate June 8, 1985.

“It is with much sorrow that the California Department of Corrections memorializes the death of Sgt. Burchfield,” said McCarthy. “The untimely passing of Sgt. Burchfield is mourned by the 17,000 employees of the California Department of Corrections.”

The Director then presented the award along with a red rose and embraced Mrs. Burchfield with a hug.

“I feel honored to receive this on behalf of my late husband,” said Mrs. Burchfield. She said she was saddened the public is not more aware of the work performed by correctional officers every day.

A video tape of this event is available at all institutions and parole region training offices for viewing by staff. This ceremony was the first of many more to come. Recipients are nominated by their supervisors for the awards on a calendar year basis and the awards are presented the following year.

Story by Jackie Corrie, Correction News managing editor

Originally published in Correction News, a newsletter of the California Department of Corrections, in August 1986, volume 13, No. 4.

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