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Thursday, December 6, 2007

California Fire News

Governor Schwarzenegger Presents Medal of Valor to 31 State Employees

Posted: 05 Dec 2007 11:32 AM CST

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today awarded the Governor's State Employee Medal of Valor to 31 state employees who have demonstrated extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism.

"I am proud to award the Governor's State Employee Medal of Valor to these 31 amazing California citizens," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "These professionals come from different departments and agencies within our state government, but what they all have in common is their incredible bravery. The men and women we are honoring today are true heroes in every sense of the word."

All 31 employees receiving the awards today will also be honored at tonight's 76th annual State Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony with an ornament hung on the tree to pay tribute to each employee. Last year, the Governor renamed the Capitol Christmas Tree the "Tree of Heroes" in honor of the Governor's State Employee Medal of Valor recipients.

The Medal of Valor, which started in 1959, is the highest honor that California bestows on its public servants and is awarded to California state employees who have performed an extraordinary act of heroism above and beyond the normal call of duty, at great risk to their own personal safety or life, to save the life of another. Award nominations are made by the employee's department.

The employees being honored today and listed below represent the Department of Conservation, Department of Fish and Game, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Highway Patrol, Department of Mental Health, Department of Motor Vehicles and Department of Transportation.

Department of Conservation

Dave Longstreth, of Ukiah, rescued two passengers from a car that was sinking 100 feet offshore in Lake Mendocino on April 28, 2006.

Department of Fish and Game

James Jones, of Suisun City, prevented injury to a CHP officer by shooting the suspect who was attempting to run over the officer with his vehicle on December 3, 2003.
Adam Kavanagh, of Diamond Springs, and John Nores, of San Martin, rescued a fellow warden who was shot and wounded during a marijuana eradication detail on August 5, 2005.
Frank Milazzo, of Mariposa, aided in subduing an armed, suicidal and homicidal man on December 2, 2006.

Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

David Shew, of St. Helena, stopped a suicidal man from jumping off a freeway overpass on April 27, 2007.
Richard (Rick) Moore, of Sanger, assisted three citizens to safety during a fire on July 3, 2006.
Jacklyn Bowes, Kelley DeGifford and William Smith, all of Perris, rescued and evacuated a mother and son from their home during the Emerald Fire on August 29, 2006.
Ignacio Otero Jr., of Perris, protected a fellow firefighter from great bodily harm or possibly death during a structural fire on May 9, 2007.

California Highway Patrol

Erik Quisenberry, of Willows, saved a woman and stopped a suspect from a hostile knife attack on April 12, 2005.
Duane Greaver, of Santa Ana, Timothy Hall, of San Juan Capistrano, and Peter Sutherland, of Los Angeles, rescued a suicidal suspect from a burning vehicle on June 8, 2005.
Brent Weese, of Crescent City, rescued a woman from a fast-moving grass fire on July 3, 2006.
Jude Donahue, of Los Angeles, attempted to rescue a man from a burning motor home on August 26, 2006.
Brian Scott Bushey, of South Lake Tahoe, prevented a woman from drowning in a near freezing creek on November 3, 2006.
Brian Elledge, of Vacaville, rescued a man trapped in his burning vehicle on December 2, 2006.
Corben Whitney, of Fresno, rescued a four-year-old boy from a burning vehicle on July 13, 2007.

Department of Mental Health

Clifford Kozlowski, of Coalinga, and Stanley Streeter, of Lemoore, rescued a state hospital canine unit from drowning in a wastewater treatment pond on December 14, 2006.
Phillip Scott Nixon, of Napa, prevented an attempted carjacking and robbery on January 22, 2007.

Department of Motor Vehicles

Nathaniel Williams, of Stockton, rescued an unconscious man from a burning vehicle on February 8, 2007.

Department of Transportation

Timothy Mooney, of Upper Lake, rescued a severely injured man trapped in the trunk of a car on January 13, 2007.
Stephen Maraviov, of Hayfork, rescued a woman trapped in her vehicle on a steep embankment for 14 hours on November 24, 2004.
Chris Ball, of Sierraville, rescued a man trapped in his vehicle following a massive mudslide on December 31, 2005.
John Fitzgerald, of Madera, and Anand Kapoor, of Fresno, rescued a woman trapped in her burning vehicle following a traffic accident on May 4, 2006.
Wayne Moeck and Charles Russell, both of San Diego, rescued several people from a house fire and also extinguished the fire on January 10, 2007.

All 31 medal of valor recipients will have an ornament on the Capitol's Christmas tree, which was renamed the Tree of Heroes in 2006