WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Today the Governor presented three California Highway Patrol officers with the Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor – the highest state award for valor presented to a public safety officer.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom, joined by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, recognized three California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers for their acts of bravery during the Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Awards ceremony earlier today at the Governor’s Mansion in Sacramento. This honor is the highest state award for valor presented to a public safety officer.
WHAT CHP COMMISSIONER SEAN DURYEE SAID: “These officers represent the highest standards of courage and dedication in the face of imminent danger. Their unwavering commitment to uphold their solemn oath by courageously placing themselves at risk to protect the lives of others embodies the essence of our law enforcement community’s daily sacrifice and the core values of the CHP. We are incredibly proud of their heroic actions.”
During today’s ceremony, Governor Newsom recognized each of the following CHP officers for their noble actions:
Officer Aaron Adair (Santa Ana Area) was presented with a Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for his valiant actions to rescue a man from a burning vehicle. On Feb. 20, 2022, Officer Adair arrived on the scene of a crash on Interstate 10 in West Covina. With the fire rapidly spreading, he worked quickly to free the unconscious man trapped inside the burning vehicle. Moments after Officer Adair freed the driver and pulled him to safety, explosions could be heard coming from the car. During the rescue, Officer Adair suffered severe burns to his hand and was transported to the hospital.
Officers Jeremy Welch and Troy Wiltshire (Central Los Angeles Area) were presented with a Governor’s Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for taking brave and decisive action to stop a wrong-way driver. In the early morning hours of March 10, 2022, the CHP received multiple reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 10 in Los Angeles County. With the patrol car’s lights and siren activated, the officers initiated a traffic break to slow the traffic behind them. As the wrong-way vehicle quickly closed in, the officers realized the driver was not slowing down or reacting to the patrol vehicle’s lights and siren. Officers Welch and Wiltshire made the split-second decision to protect the innocent motorists behind them by deliberately maneuvering the patrol car directly into the path of the wrong-way vehicle, which was traveling 90-100 mph. The maneuver, and subsequent impact, successfully halted the wrong-way vehicle’s momentum, saving the other motorists from injury and potential death. Both the wrong-way driver and the officers were transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. The driver was subsequently arrested for driving under the influence.
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