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Written by Ted hunt
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THE INCIDENT
Officer Parker was working with Isaac Espinoza on the evening that the two were suddenly fired upon by a gunman wielding an assault rifle. Both officers were hit and Officer Espinoza died from his injuries.Sgt. Carl Fabbri initiated the nomination through the office of Chief Heather Fong to the Attorney General of California. Sergeant Fabbri wrote: “Despite being shot, Officer Parker showed incredible bravery and dedication to his fellow officer, and got to Officer Espinoza who was laying on the sidewalk. Officer Parker used his body as a human shield to protect Officer Espinoza from another possible attack from the shooter’s assault rifle. “Officer Parker was aware that by leaving his position of cover, he faced possible death. In a great display of heroism, Officer Parker looked death in the eye and attempted to rescue Officer Espinoza.”
During the awards ceremony, Governor Schwarzenegger said, “This award honors the bravest of the brave in our public safety professions including law enforcement, firefighters and emergency service officers. Each of these four men has shown incredible character and bravery going beyond the call of duty to protect the lives of their fellow officers and members of the public. “None of us can say how we will act when standing in the face of fear, but these brave men threatened by the very real possibility of losing their own lives looked fear in the eye and refused to stand down. “Each of these heroes has the courage, the selflessness and the camaraderie it takes to serve on the line. On behalf of all Californians I want to thank them for their courage. They are an inspiration to us all.”
In addition to Officer Parker, the following California public safety officers also received the award:Sergeant Hector Feliciano of the Los Angeles Police Department who took the initiative and led his fellow officers in a hostage rescue situation at the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. He negotiated with the suspect and used his exemplary marksmanship skills by shooting the suspect who was going to kill his pregnant hostage.Deputy David Tilstra of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department who was the pilot of the helicopter being used to help officers on the ground locate an armed suspect in Black-Star Canyon in rural eastern Orange County. He displayed exceptional valor by continuing to pilot the helicopter after he had been shot by the armed suspect.Emergency Medical Technician Matt Wilson of the City of Imperial Beach Public Safety Department who responded to a cry for help from a boy who witnessed his three teenage friends jump into the turbulent and icy waters of Imperial Beach. After calling for backup, Matt Wilson proceeded to jump into the ocean three separate times, rescuing each of the victims from being crushed into the Municipal Pier by the deadly eight-foot waves.
Reprinted from the POA Journal, the official publication of the San Francisco Police Officers Association.
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