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By Krissi Khokhobashvili, CDCR Public Information Officer II
Photos by Eric Owens, CDCR Staff Photographer
and, Terry Thornton, Deputy Press Secretary
Office of Public and Employee Communications
There was no denying the pride in CDCR Secretary Scott Kernan’s face as he looked out over a room full of corrections employees and their families, gathered to honor their achievements and bravery at the 31st annual Medal of Valor ceremony.
One by one, 125 CDCR employees from parole units, fire camps, training centers, headquarters and 21 correctional institutions accepted awards for deeds ranging from rendering aid during harrowing vehicle crashes and confronting dangerous assailants to saving the lives of inmates and staff during dangerous incidents inside state prisons.
Joining the department in congratulating the honorees was Gov. Jerry Brown, who came to the ceremony at Creekside Christian Church in Elk Grove to thank staff for their service.
“At the end of the day, the strength of a society is not its money, or its elections, much less its elected officials,” said Gov. Jerry Brown, who attended the ceremony. “It’s the people, their character, their virtue, and how they treat themselves, their families and their neighbors, and who are strengthening our state and country by what they’ve done. They go above and beyond the call of duty and act in a way that is profoundly humane and gives edification and inspiration to everyone else who hears about it or sees it.”
Correctional Officer Jaymi Appleberry certainly fits the bill. Attacked by an armed man while off duty, Appleberry put her training into lightning-fast action, managing to get her friend away from the assailant and disarm him, even while the gun fired twice. When the attacker tried to run after her, she turned the weapon on him, causing him to flee. Appleberry sustained a head laceration during the attack, but no doubt saved her friend’s life – and her own. Not bad for a correctional officer who has been with the department less than two years.
“It is truly a humbling experience, because I am still a new officer with such little time in,” said Appleberry, who works at California State Prison-Sacramento (SAC). “I am so grateful for the training, support and encouragement given to me by the departmental staff. I thank God for giving me the courage, and I thank the department for giving me the training.”
Correctional Officer Mike Johnson, a seven-year veteran of the department who has spent his whole career at Salinas Valley State Prison (SVSP), was also honored with the Medal of Valor for bravely saving two lives following a fiery crash in Salinas.
On his way home from work in 2015, Johnson came across a two-car crash with one vehicle on fire. Johnson and a Marina police officer rescued a woman from the vehicle by carrying her to safety just before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. Johnson also moved another victim to safety who had been on the ground near the burning vehicle. Both victims survived.
“My training was an immense factor on the positive outcome of the situation,” Johnson said. “As officers, we are trained to respond. One of the more important aspects we are taught is known as the OODA loop. Basically this means observe, orient, develop a plan, act, and the loop aspect is to recycle/reset as the situation changes.”
SVSP Warden Bill Muniz came to the Medal of Valor ceremony to support Johnson and his other employees who received awards. In addition to Johnson, eight SVSP employees were honored with a Unit Citation for risking their own safety to remove an inmate from a burning cell. Muniz pointed out that his staff responds to an average of 1,000 incidents each year, and their experience inside the maximum-security prison prepares them to assist citizens in the community, as well.
“The bravery instilled in staff by having to respond to emergent situations spills over,” Muniz explained. “They’re primed by all of the alarms they respond to, all the dangerous situations. They’re used to running in when others run out.”
While Johnson speaks matter-of-factly about the experience, his daughter Macy is quick to point out the heroism involved, and that not just anybody would be willing to put themselves in harm’s way in order to save a life.
“I feel like it’s not something a lot of people would do or be capable of doing,” she said. “He tore a console out of a car. I’m proud of him. I sum it up this way: This is what my dad is. This is what he does.”
In addition to his actions during the accident, Johnson also worked to raise money for the family to cover their astronomic medical bills, and hopes to work with fellow CDCR employees to establish a nonprofit that would raise money for families affected by traumatic events.
In addition to the two Medal of Valor recipients, 123 other CDCR employees were honored at the ceremony in the form of Unit Citations and Gold, Silver and Bronze Stars. The ceremony, which has been sponsored for 12 years by the California Correctional Supervisors Organization, also recognized employees with Distinguished Service Medals for exemplary work conduct, and with Employee Recognition Awards, honoring the department’s Administrator of the Year, Rehabilitation Professional of the Year and Correctional Officer and Supervisor of the Year, among others.
Gazing over the crowd, Kernan reflected on the hard work of the thousands of men and women whose actions day in and day out support the department’s vision of a safer California through correctional excellence.
“Our jobs have never been easy,” he said. “However, we continue meeting the challenges as they arise, sometimes at great personal sacrifice. I am proud to lead our staff as we strive to make the agency a national role model for corrections and rehabilitation.”
(Editor’s note: Medal of Valor photos are availabeathttps://cdcrmedalofvalorceremony.shutterfly.com/pictures/222.
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2016 honorees
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.
Mike R. Johnson, Correctional Officer
Salinas Valley State Prison
Jaymi Appleberry, Correctional Officer
California State Prison-Sacramento
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.
Jesus Blandon, Correctional Officer
California Health Care Facility.
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.
John Edelman, Parole Agent I
California Parolee Apprehension Team North
Kenneth Thomas, Parole Agent I
Sean Torphy, Parole Agent I
Ben Somera, Parole Agent I
Southern Region California Parolee Apprehension Team
John Mendiboure, Correctional Lieutenant
Michael Tuntakit, Correctional Lieutenant
Avenal State Prison
Rafael Diaz, Correctional Officer
Correctional Training Center
Peter Vanderford, Correctional Officer
Prado Conservation Camp #28
Mario Gutierrez, Correctional Officer
Southern Camp Warehouse
Quincy Thacker, Parole Administrator
Southern Region California Parolee Apprehension Team
Eduardo (Edward) Sanchez, Parole Agent I
Southern Region California Parolee Apprehension Team
Miguel Lopez, Youth Correctional Officer
Vincent Sillas, Lieutenant Youth Authority
Ventura Youth Correctional Facility
Steve M. Mello, Correctional Officer
North Kern State Prison
Darrell Nygren, Correctional Sergeant
Ronnie Wheeler, Correctional Officer
Ted Zerr, Correctional Officer
California State Prison-Sacramento
Aaron Brannen, Correctional Officer
Christopher Causey, Correctional Officer
California State Prison-Sacramento
Chad Look, Correctional Officer
Luis Delatorre, Correctional Officer
Tyson Manning, Correctional Officer
Wasco State Prison Reception Center
Daniel Rodriguez, Correctional Officer
San Quentin State Prison
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.
Juan Aguirre, Correctional Officer
Travon Rodgers, Correctional Officer
Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility
Gary Gomez, Correctional Officer
Ironwood State Prison
Raymond Dominguez, Correctional Officer
Joshua Priester, Correctional Officer
Folsom State Prison
Derek Kelley, Correctional Officer
Wayne Anthony, Retired Correctional Lieutenant
Pelican Bay State Prison
Joseph Jasso, Correctional Food Manager I
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Stan Tuck, Correctional Sergeant
Avenal State Prison
Karla Joseph, Correctional Officer
San Quentin State Prison
Karen Elliott, Correctional Case Records Administrator
Division of Adult Institutions – Case Records Services
Gerardo Garcia, Pharmacy Technician
Central California Women’s Facility
Shawn Dawson, Correctional Officer
Victor Ruiz, Correctional Officer
Chuckawalla Valley State Prison
Eric Baker, Correctional Sergeant
California State Prison, Sacramento
Roy Dickinson, Special Agent
Office of Correctional Safety Fugitive Apprehension Team – Fresno
Marco Arana, Correctional Officer
California Institution for Women
Fernando Herrera, Correctional Sergeant
Office of Training and Personal Development/Advanced Learning Institute
Christian Logan, Correctional Officer
Kern Valley State Prison
Deric Johnson, Associate Construction Analyst
Facility Planning, Construction & Management
Doug Sykes, Correctional Officer
High Desert State Prison
Stacey Emerson, Correctional Officer
High Desert State Prison
David Church, Correctional Officer
Robert Gamberg Sr., Correctional Lieutenant
Craig Phillips, Supervising Registered Nurse III
High Desert State Prison
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.
Fernand Alvarez, Physician & Surgeon
Denise Reyes, Physician & Surgeon
George Beatty, Physician & Surgeon
Clarene David, Physician & Surgeon
Shannon Garrigan, Physician & Surgeon
John Grant, Physician & Surgeon
Doreen Leighton, Physician & Surgeon
Jenny Espinoza, Physician & Surgeon
Alison Pachynski, Physician & Surgeon
Michael Rowe, Physician & Surgeon
Daniel Smith, Physician & Surgeon
Rahul Vanjani, Physician & Surgeon
Lisa Pratt, Chief Physician & Surgeon
Elena Tootell, Chief Medical Executive
Ingrid Nelson, Nurse Practitioner
Peggy Hanna, Nurse Practitioner
San Quentin State Prison
(This team is also recognized as Healthcare Professional of the Year)
Servando Ceballos, Correctional Officer
Danny A. Delgadillo, Correctional Officer
Brenda Sanchez, Correctional Officer
Jason A. Sanudo, Correctional Officer
Daryl L. Schlitz, Correctional Officer
Carlos A. Vega, Correctional Officer
Thadd C. Wittmann, Correctional Officer
Darryl L. Williams, Correctional Sergeant
Salinas Valley State Prison
David Gonzales, Correctional Sergeant
Tyrome Johnson, Correctional Officer
Michelle Stein, Registered Nurse
Petyo Rashev, Correctional Officer
Jeremy Prentice, Correctional Lieutenant
Steven Byers, Correctional Sergeant
Kathryn Manness, Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Jason Murillo, Correctional Officer
Breanna Ortiz, Correctional Officer
Rolfe Dixon, Correctional Officer
California State Prison-Sacramento
Leonel Garcia, Correctional Officer
Brandon Merkelbach, Correctional Officer
Vincent Mayorga, Correctional Officer
Mark Garcia, Correctional Sergeant
California Institution for Women
Henry Arevalo Jr., Correctional Officer
Ricky Charles, Correctional Officer
Eric Dixon, Correctional Officer
Ernest Parker, Correctional Officer
Robert Perez, Correctional Officer
Michael Rients, Correctional Officer
Daniel Vasquez, Correctional Officer
Claire Garrovillo, Registered Nurse
William Sullivan, Correctional Sergeant
Kern Valley State Prison
Dylan Brown, Correctional Officer
Christopher Causey, Correctional Officer
Seth Ignasiak, Correctional Officer
Jeff Leech, Correctional Officer
Robert Mott, Correctional Officer
Breanna Ortiz, Correctional Officer
Matthew Troth, Correctional Officer
Paul Bettencourt, Correctional Officer
California State Prison-Sacramento
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.
Charles Wood, Correctional Health Services Administrator II
California State Prison-Sacramento
David Johns, Parole Agent I
Northern Region, Ukiah Parole Unit
Richard Gonsalves, Parole Agent I
Meshal Kashifalghita, Parole Agent I
Kenneth Thomas, Parole Agent I
Joshua Bateson, Parole Agent II
Eduardo (Edward) Sanchez, Parole Agent I
Cecelia Gutierrez, Parole Service Associate
Elizabeth Ornelas, Parole Service Associate
Patricia Tellez, Parole Agent II
Southern Region California Parolee Apprehension Team
Dawn Hershberger, Correctional Officer
California Correctional Center
Marlaina Dernoncourt, Correctional Captain
California State Prison-Solano
Employee Recognition Awards
Executive of the Year
Clark Ducart, Warden
Pelican Bay State Prison
Administrator of the Year
Jason Lopez, Deputy Director
Office of Fiscal Services
Rehabilitation Professional of the Year
Jacqueline Laudeman, Correctional Counselor III
Division of Rehabilitative Programs
Division of Adult Parole Operations Professional of the Year
Denise Milano, Chief Deputy Administrator, Correctional Program
Headquarters
Correctional Officer of the Year
Juan C. Velazquez, Correctional Officer
California Institution for Men
Correctional Supervisor of the Year
Andres Banuelos, Correctional Lieutenant
California Institution for Men
Division of Juvenile Justice Professional of the Year
Heather Bowlds, Associate Director, Mental Health
Healthcare Professional of the Year
Legionnaires’ Disease Team
San Quentin State Prison