113 honored for courage, service above and beyond the call of duty
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) honored 113 employees today during its 32nd annual Medal of Valor Ceremony. The Medal of Valor is earned by employees distinguishing themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of correctional service. It is the highest honor CDCR bestows upon its employees.
“These individuals have demonstrated valor and courage in the face of real danger,” said Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr., who gave opening remarks at the ceremony. “The Medal of Valor we give today is given to people who in the face of danger for their own lives met the test and did what they had to do. They let duty prevail over fear.”
“We should all take inspiration from those who did exactly what they needed to do to have a great Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and also to have a great society.”
One of this year’s Medal of Valor recipients is Deuel Vocational Institution Correctional Officer Kevin Machado, who bravely subdued a knife-wielding man who was attacking employees and shoppers at a local Costco last year. Employees of the Modesto store had attempted to force the assailant out of the store by creating a barricade with shopping carts and other objects, but the man was still a danger to the public outside. Officer Machado approached the man outside the store, drew his concealed weapon, identified himself as a peace officer and ordered the man to drop the knife. The man refused to comply and began lunging at Officer Machado, jabbing the knife in Machado’s direction. Officer Machado courageously fired a single shot, wounding his attacker and stopping the assault.
“The Medal of Valor is the highest honor we can bestow upon our officers, and I am so proud of the selfless actions and dedication to the community of our honorees,” said CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan. “Their courage, bravery and commitment under extreme conditions went beyond the normal demands of correctional service. For all our recipients today, your hard work embodies the spirit of our department, and I am privileged and honored to work beside you.”
This year’s second Medal of Valor recipient is CDCR Transportation Unit Correctional Sergeant Timothy Reynolds, who rescued victims of a four-vehicle crash as their vehicle teetered on the edge of a 60-foot drop. When Sergeant Reynolds and his unit came
across the crash, he risked his own safety to rescue the victims just after an adjacent vehicle exploded in flames. Reynolds’ quick action and courage helped save the victims from serious injury or even death.
Staff members from state prisons, parole offices and CDCR divisions statewide received awards at Creekside Christian Church of Elk Grove. In addition to the Medal of Valor, CDCR awarded Distinguished Service Medals, Unit Citations and Bronze, Silver and Gold Corrections Stars.
A complete list of 2017 award winners follows:
Medal of Valor
The Medal of Valor is the Department’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 in the lives of others.
Kevin Machado, Correctional Officer
Deuel Vocational Institution
Timothy Reynolds, Correctional Sergeant
CDCR Statewide Transportation Unit
Gold Star Medal
The Gold Star Medal is awarded 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.
Dameion Renault, Community Resource Manager
Sierra Conservation Center
Rory Rickman, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Sacramento
David Matthews, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Sacramento
Michael Gomes, Correctional Sergeant
Pine Grove Youth Conservation Camp
Silver Star Medal
The Silver Star Medal is awarded 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 him/herself by performing in stressful situations with exceptional tactics or judgement.
Andrew Asjes Jr., Correctional Officer
Kern Valley State Prison
Daniel Glover, Correctional Officer
Sierra Conservation Center
Brian Berghorst, Correctional Officer
Deuel Vocational Institution
John Mendiboure, Correctional Lieutenant
Avenal State Prison
Allen Aldon, Staff Services Analyst
Office of Peace Officer Selection – Southern Selection Center
Fred Bird, Plumber II
California Correctional Center
Bronze Star Medal
The 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.
Cavin Horton, Correctional Sergeant
Kern Valley State Prison
Sergio Castrejon, Correctional Officer
Kern Valley State Prison
Joseph Harmon, Correctional Officer
Kern Valley State Prison
Jonathan Homer, Correctional Officer
R.J. Donovan Correctional Facility
Randy Turner, Correctional Sergeant (Two Bronze Star Medals)
San Quentin State Prison
Lisa Fuette, Correctional Officer
San Quentin State Prison
Robert O’Brien, Correctional Captain
Folsom State Prison
Lonnie A. Watson Jr., Correctional Officer
Pleasant Valley State Prison
Quentin Brantley, Correctional Sergeant
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Leticia Espinoza, Correctional Sergeant
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Rod Harvell, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Solano
Kristina Smith, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Kenneth Thomas, Parole Agent III
Division of Adult Parole Operations – Southern Region
Daniel Kirk, Correctional Counselor II
Sierra Conservation Center
Christopher Sanders, Correctional Officer
Folsom State Prison
Mark Evans, Correctional Sergeant
Correctional Training Facility
Stanley Wright Jr., Correctional Sergeant
R.A. McGee Correctional Training Center
Anthony Marquez, Correctional Sergeant
R.A. McGee Correctional Training Center
Salvador Velasco Jr., Correctional Sergeant
Calipatria State Prison
Gilberto Jora, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Sacramento
Mark Barra, Correctional Sergeant
Calipatria State Prison
Gloria Cano, Registered Nurse
Ironwood State Prison
Greg Henry, Stationary Engineer
Sean Brown, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Corcoran
Lee Brannon, Parole Agent I
Oakland Parole Complex
Mario Rios, Correctional Officer
California Correctional Institution
Tony Carbajal, Correctional Officer
Central Transportation Hub
Unit Citation Medal
The Unit Citation is awarded for great courage displayed by a departmental unit in the course of conducting an operation in the face of immediate life-threatening circumstances.
Corey Ringer, Correctional Sergeant
Joseph Eyerman, Correctional Sergeant
Robert Curry, Correctional Sergeant
Steve Mackey, Fire Captain
Arthur “Duke” Juanitas, Fire Captain
Elliott Hull, Fire Captain
Mark Runyan, Correctional Officer
Peter Reyersbach Jr., Correctional Officer
Rodney Lazard, Correctional Officer
Dale Bunch, Correctional Officer
Paramjit Kaur, Registered Nurse
Folsom State Prison
William McCart, Correctional Officer
Larry Middlesworth, Correctional Officer
Jeffrey McCullough, Correctional Officer
Mark Friend, Correctional Officer
Justin Byers, Correctional Officer
Dominick Avila, Correctional Officer
Brittany Alkire, Correctional Counselor I
High Desert State Prison
Hien Le, Parole Agent III, Assistant Unit Supervisor
Calvin Holmes Jr., Parole Agent III
Riverside GPS Parole Unit
Distinguished Service Medal
The Distinguished Service Medal is awarded 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.
Jack Hansen, Correctional Officer
California State Prison, Sacramento
Ronald G. Frantz, Parole Agent III – Senior Investigator
Board of Parole Hearings – Offender Investigations Unit
Brantley Choate, Superintendent
Office of Correctional Education
Kelly Medina, Correctional Administrator
Female Offender Programs and Services
Kelly Santoro, Warden
North Kern State Prison
Employee Recognition Awards
Executive of the Year
- Eliot Spearman Sr., Warden
High Desert State Prison
Administrator of the Year
Howard Moseley, Chief Deputy General Counsel
Office of Legal Affairs
Rehabilitation Professional of the Year
Ryan Souza, Associate Director Program Support
Landon Bravo, Chief of Program Operations
Jessica Mazlum, Chief of Compliance and Population Placement
Division of Rehabilitative Programs
Division of Adult Parole Operations Professional of the Year
Steve Marshall, Chief Deputy
Headquarters
Correctional Officer of the Year
Ashley Giusto, Correctional Officer
California Institution for Women
Correctional Supervisor of the Year
Jennifer Kuehn, Correctional Counselor II
Shane Brown, Correctional Lieutenant
Division of Juvenile Justice Professional of the Year
DaiNette Bowens, Parole Agent II, Specialist
N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility
Lynn Arbios, Executive Secretary
Northern California Youth Correctional Center
Healthcare Professional of the Year
Mary Melizza, EHRS HIM SME
Jennifer Wright, EHRS HIM SME
Michelle Williams, EHRS HIM SME
Debra Caster, EHRS HIM SME
Mamie Hao, EHRS HIM SME
Jason Whitby, EHRS Pharmacy SME
Jean-Marc Manosane, EHRS Pharmacy SME
Lisa Holcomb, EHRS Mental Health Scheduling SME
Steven Cartwright, EHRS Mental Health SME
Kevin Kuich, EHRS Mental Health SME
Unique Martinez, EHRS Medical SME
Ryan Namba, EHRS Medical SME
Janita Taylor, EHRS Medical SME
Veela Lymuel, EHRS Nursing SME
Jodie Hurn, EHRS Nursing SME
Mike Pedersen, EHRS Nursing SME
Rebecca Ramirez, EHRS Nursing SME
Cynthia Ricker, EHRS Nursing SME
Gance Ly, EHRS Team
Toni Richey, EHRS Team
Nick Faragasso, EHRS Team
Runora Francesconi, EHRS Team
Maria Fritz, EHRS Team
Grace Jeyaseelan, NCPR HQ, EHRS Nursing SME
Jim Elliott, CEO of CIW, Region IV
Laura Coontz, SRN-II, Region III ECHOS SME Coordinator
Chris Brady, RN – CMC, Region II
June Buckholtz, RN, Region II
Patty Gonzales, NCPR, Region II
Theresa Kimura-Yip, CEO of FSP, Region 1
Josh Albertson, SRN-II, Region 1 ECHOS SME Coordinator
Debra Amos-Terrell, Chief Nurse Executive
Janene DelMundo, EHRS Team
John Rekart, Chief Psychologist, EHRS Mental Health SME
Eric Lee, M.D., Lead Physician on ECHOS team, Region IV
Electronic Health Record System Deployment Team
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 14, 2017
Contact: Alexandra Powell
(916) 445-4950
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