SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY DEPUTIES TO RECEIVE CONGRESSIONAL BADGE OF BRAVERY
San Bernardino County Deputies to Receive Congressional Badge of Bravery
WASHINGTON, D.C. – September 17, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — U.S. Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-San Bernardino), Ken Calvert (R-Corona), and Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) will award the Congressional Badge of Bravery to four San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies during a ceremony on Tuesday, September 22. Three of the deputies will be recognized for their actions during the Christopher Dorner manhunt in 2013. A fourth deputy will be honored for rescuing occupants of a Victorville apartment who were trapped during a fire.
Established in 2008, the Federal Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery honors exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by federal, state, and local law enforcement officers. The medals are awarded annually by the U.S. Attorney General and are presented by the recipients’ Congressional representatives.
Detective Larry Lopez, Detective Justin Musella, and Deputy Daniel Rosa will be awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery for their heroic actions to save the lives of fellow deputies during a shootout with Christopher Dorner on February 12, 2013. After detectives Alex Collins and Jeremiah MacKay were seriously wounded by the assailant, Lopez, Musella, and Rosa coordinated a plan to provide concealment so that the injured deputies could be extracted. Once a smoke screen was deployed, all three deputies left their positions of cover, exposing themselves to the assailant’s gunfire, and dragged Collins and MacKay to safer positions. Despite their efforts, MacKay succumbed to his injuries.
On June 15, 2013, Deputy Arturo Ramirez was dispatched to a fire at a Victorville apartment. Upon arriving on scene, Ramirez was advised that occupants of the apartment were trapped inside. Realizing that the fire was growing quickly, Ramirez ran inside the structure and rescued four residents, including a five-month old and a toddler. Once outside, the occupants notified Ramirez that another young child was trapped inside. Again, he rushed inside the apartment and successfully extracted the young girl who was reunited with her family. For his efforts to rescue the family, Ramirez will receive the Congressional Badge of Bravery.
Lopez, Musella, Ramirez, and Rosa will each receive the Congressional Badge of Bravery during a 9:00AM press conference at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department headquarters, located at 655 East Third Street in San Bernardino, on Tuesday, September 22.
