The 2024 Bronze Star is awarded 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.
2024 Bronze Star recipients
Ron Agredano, Parole Agent
Division of Adult Parole Operations, Stockton Parole Office
Agent Ron Agredano knew immediately what do when a distraught mother came rushing to him for help last October.
Agredano had just finished a face-to-face parole visit with her son and was in his car writing notes. The mother said her other son was possibly experiencing an overdose in their home.
Without hesitating, Agredano grabbed his “Go Bag,” equipped with his state-issued Narcan, and went inside, directing the family to call 911 and stay nearby. He found the man lying on a lounge chair. He was pale and sweaty, breathing less than eight times a minute and unresponsive.
Drawing from over 10 years of training and experience as a paramedic, Agredano quickly determined the man was suffering from an opiate overdose and administered Narcan. Within two minutes, the man regained consciousness and resumed normal breathing.
The Stockton Fire Department and paramedics arrived on scene soon after. Agredano provided them a detailed report and effectively transferred care.
Agredano showed courage, resiliency, and dedication to service through his quick actions and selfless nature. If not for Agredano’s quick response the outcome could have been fatal.
John Costello, Correctional Officer
CSP-Sacramento
Officer John Costello drew upon his medical background to help a person who needed his expertise.
While driving to work one early morning in February 2023, he came upon the aftermath of a vehicle accident in Lincoln. He pulled over and found a single victim slumped in the driver’s seat, unconscious and not breathing.
Costello immediately called 911 and began life-saving measures. He extricated the victim from the vehicle and performed CPR for about 10 minutes until local police arrived.
Even after the police arrived, Costello continued rendering aid. He directed responding police to retrieve medical equipment, including an Automated External Defibrillator, which he applied and analyzed, in conjunction with administering CPR.
Costello provided aid until advanced life support personnel arrived and took over care.
By keeping a calm, professional demeanor in a stressful situation, Costello used exceptional judgment and tactics in his efforts to provide life-saving measures.
Ronald Franklin, Correctional Sergeant
Pelican Bay State Prison
Sometimes even the most heroic measures can’t save a life, but they may provide a family closure.
While off duty in Crescent City in April 2023, Sgt. Frankin approached a single-vehicle accident. A man was in the vehicle with mortal wounds. Several individuals were on-scene, but no one was trying to help.
Frankin entered this difficult scene and acted without hesitation, checking the man’s vital signs. He was not breathing and Franklin could not detect a pulse.
Franklin quickly removed him from the vehicle and started CPR. He was able to resuscitate the man and was later relieved by paramedics. The man was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital, where it was determined he did not have brain function.
As a result of Frankin’s decision to act, family members were given time to visit the accident victim and say their goodbyes.
Further, he was an organ and tissue donor. Franklin enabled him to provide the gift of life and life enhancement to numerous people and their families.
Imelda Holbrook, Correctional Officer
Ironwood State Prison
When a family experienced a traumatic accident, Officer Holbrook stopped to help when no one else would.
In September 2023, Holbrook was driving eastbound on Interstate 10 after working her shift at Ironwood State Prison.
It was raining heavily when she saw an SUV driving westbound lose control, hydroplaning off the road. The vehicle flipped over and landed right side up in the mud.
Officer Holbrook pulled her vehicle over and got out, crossing the median and making her way toward the accident.
She saw two adults and two children inside the car, which had all its airbags deployed. Holbrook immediately called 911.
She then took the family, carrying one of the children, to her vehicle. Holbrook provided shelter while awaiting the arrival of first responders, staying with the family until the scene was cleared. She then drove them to a nearby hotel.
Holbrook’s quick and selfless actions helped keep this family safe in dangerous circumstances.
Velina Morales, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
Division of Adult Parole Operations, Headquarters
Last December, Velina Morales was refueling and washing a Division of Adult Parole Operations pool vehicle at a gas station in Sacramento when she noticed a mother in a state of panic, holding her infant.
The distressed mother approached Morales for help, explaining her baby had removed a plastic sticker from the bottom of her shoe and attempted to swallow it. The baby was now choking on it.
Because the mother had long fingernails, she was not able to remove the sticker from her baby’s mouth.
Demonstrating quick thinking and maternal instincts honed from raising three children of her own, Morales acted swiftly.
She carefully inserted her finger into the baby’s mouth and successfully removed the choking hazard, saving the infant’s life.
Morales displayed extraordinary heroism and compassion in a critical situation. We honor her quick thinking and selfless act.
Jose Ortega, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Corcoran
Officers showed bravery when they came to the aid of another officer, rescuing him from a burning car. On a Sunday evening in May 2023, Officer Vasquez was hit by another vehicle head-on while driving home from his first-watch shift.
The collision was violent, knocking him unconscious and causing his vehicle to catch fire.
Officer Rogelio Tienda came upon the horrific scene of the hit-and-run collision. Seeing Vasquez unconscious and the cabin filling with smoke, Tienda knew he had to act quickly.
Unable to open the door, he ran to his vehicle and got a crowbar from the trunk. After several attempts, he was able to break the window and pull Vasquez from the wreckage.
Officer Ortega and an unknown correctional officer from Substance Abuse Treatment Facility stopped to assist after observing Tienda rescuing Vasquez. Together, they safely moved Vasquez a safe distance away from the fully engulfed vehicle and stayed with him to keep him calm, as his injuries were extensive.
CHP arrived on the scene soon after and took a suspect into custody for felony driving under the influence causing major injuries and felony hit and run.
The actions of officers Tienda and Ortega, and their quick reaction during a very stressful and dangerous situation, were nothing short of heroic.
Note: Officer Tienda was awarded the Gold Star for his actions.
Fidencio Ramirez, Transportation Officer
Substance Abuse Treatment Facility
A routine shopping trip with his daughter ended with a brave officer defusing a dangerous situation.
Officer Ramirez was with his daughter at a Walmart in Visalia in October 2023, scanning items in the self-checkout line closest to the exit door.
Ramirez overheard someone yelling for help. As he turned his attention toward the commotion, he saw someone struggling with a store employee. The assailant pulled out a can of what appeared to be pepper spray and began spraying the employees near the scene.
Ramirez immediately responded, approaching the assailant and telling him to stop his actions. The assailant then turned his attack on Ramirez and sprayed him directly in the face with the pepper spray.
Ramirez was able grab the assailant and force him to drop the pepper spray. The struggle ended up outside the store where another person joined in to assist.
Although Ramirez’s vision was impaired by the pepper spray, he and two other good Samaritans were ultimately able to gain control of the assailant on the ground and hold him down until the arrival of Visalia Police. His daughter was also affected by the over-spray on her face.
Had Ramirez not been there to assist, many other civilians could have been seriously hurt as a result of the assailant’s actions. His actions helped defuse the situation and apprehend the assailant.
Read more stories of bravery on Inside CDCR’s Above the Call series.
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