Sacramento, CA…The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) honored 116 employees August 29th during the department’s annual Medal of Valor Ceremony. Employees were recognized for extraordinary bravery and conduct above and beyond the call of duty, often in life-saving incidents where public safety was at risk.

“CDCR employees statewide are committed to protecting public safety,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Beard. “Today we are honoring the bravery and performance that goes well above the call of duty. These dedicated employees gave of themselves, and some even placed their own lives in jeopardy to save another.”

Awards were presented by Secretary Beard and senior department executives at the 29th annual ceremony, which was sponsored by the California Correctional Supervisors Organization.

In many instances, the recipients saved the life of other employees, inmates or private citizens as they responded to emergencies. Among the actions recognized by the awards were quick responses that saved the lives of traffic-accident victims and actions by a parole agent that saved the life of a wounded fellow agent. Also honored was the distinguished service of men and women to CDCR over a period of time.

The awards presented ranged from the Distinguished Service Award to the Gold Star. For the second year, Employee of the Year awards were presented by various divisions within CDCR.
A complete list of 2013 award winners follows:

GOLD STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Gold) medal is the department’s second-highest award 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.

Correctional Officer Jason Parkhurst, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Charles Contreras, California Correctional Institution

Parole Agent I Henrik Agasyan, California Parole Apprehension Team, Los Angeles

SILVER STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Silver) medal is the department’s third-highest award 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 themselves by performing in stressful situations with exceptional tactics or judgment.

Correctional Officer Angela Hazewood, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Jeff Gold, Mule Creek State Prison

Correctional Officer Joann Burnias, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility/
State Prison, Corcoran

Correctional Counselor Martin Hernandez, California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility/ State Prison, Corcoran

Special Agent Steve Epperson, Office of Correctional Safety, Special Service Unit, San Diego

Correctional Lieutenant Christopher Paris, Office of Correctional Safety, Headquarters

Correctional Lieutenant Cris Caldwell, Office of Correctional Safety, Headquarters

BRONZE STAR MEDAL

The Corrections Star (Bronze) is the department’s award 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.

Correctional Lieutenant Harold Hughes, Sierra Conservation Center

Parole Agent I Michael Williams, Oakland Parole Unit #2

Correctional Sergeant Anthony Morales, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Thomas Quezada, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Jason Murillo, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Sergeant Charles Finnegan, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Sergeant Larry Holloway, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Haydel Mitchell, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Sergeant Larry Dotterman, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Mario Alonzo, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Cresencio Alpuche, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Fire Captain Mark Del Barba, Deuel Vocational Institution

Parole Agent I Bartolo Siino, Parole Region I, Hanford Unit

Correctional Officer Sandra Copeland, California Correctional Institution

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE MEDAL

The Distinguished Service Medal is 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.

Dr. Timothy McCarthy, Chief of Mental Health, Pelican Bay State Prison (Posthumously)

Dr. Elaina Jannell, Psychologist, California State Prison, Solano

Dr. Steven Sherman, Clinical Psychologist, N.A. Chaderjian Youth Correctional Facility

Parole Agent I Roger Gold, Redwood City Parole Unit

Parole Agent III Gregory Weber, Redwood City Parole Unit

Correctional Lieutenant Tom Langford, Folsom State Prison

Parole Agent I Beth Bowens, O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility

Special Agent Karen Mory, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent Brian Docherty, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent John Castanedo, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent Jeff Faust, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent Steve Gutierrez, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent Jason Marks, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Special Agent Guillermo Moreno, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Office Technician Gener Santiago, Rancho Cucamonga Special Service Unit

Parole Agent II Gordon Lee, Redwood City Parole Unit

UNIT CITATION

The Unit Citation is for great courage displayed by a departmental unit in the course of conducting an operation in the face of immediate life-threatening circumstances.

Correctional Officer Gabriel Aguilar, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Joseph Bailey, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Angela Hazewood, California State Prison, Sacramento

Correctional Officer Marsell Johnson, California State Prison, Sacramento
Correctional Officer Michael Platt, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Edward Shew, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Daniel Torres, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Michael Rivera, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Michael Smith, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Saul Lopez, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Monica Milke, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Eddie Nunez, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Hugh McFarlane, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer David Morales, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Scott Patterson, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Juan Garcia, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Tyler Healy, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Todd Levesque, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Adam Garvey, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Rick Jones, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer David Linch, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Paul Birdsong, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Larry Dotterman, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Michael Foster, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Reginald Burks, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Dennis Duffield, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Mark Aguilar, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Mario Alonzo, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Officer Rodolfo Alaniz, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Felipe Alvarez, Ironwood State Prison

Correctional Lieutenant Michael Calhoun, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Gary Turner III, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Stacie Henley, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Harold Weaver, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Bobby Wheeler, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Charles Hougland, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Kenneth Harper, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Sergeant Richard Kemp, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Counselor I Dave Tamplen, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Oscar Smith, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Ricardo Cisneros, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer James Whittaker, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Garrett Giessner, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Jeff Ammon, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Troy Parker, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Terry Barron, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Jim Herring, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Bryan Jeanes, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Johnny Lee, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Gary Lowry, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Christopher Nason, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Cheryl Nichols, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Michael Oatman, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Darrel Ulbricht, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Brian Von Rader, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Joseph White, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Jason Harrell, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Cal Huskey, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Merle Murchison, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Robert Rivera, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Dennis Ruble, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Greg Watkins, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Scott Proffer, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer James Kline, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Bobby Lee, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Steven Wood, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Diana Oliva, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Shayna Robertson, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Fallon Shelton, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Devon Rainwater, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Anthony Pickens, High Desert State Prison

Correctional Officer Evan Zahniser, High Desert State Prison

EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR

Sirisha Gullapalli, Senior Information Systems Analyst, Enterprise Information Services

MEDICAL/DENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Dr. Gregory Tarasoff, Chief Psychiatrist, San Quentin State Prison

REHABILITATION PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Carlos Ramirez, Correctional Counselor III, California Institution for Men

DIVISION OF JUVENILE JUSTICE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Quincy Elloie, Treatment Team Supervisor, O.H. Close Youth Correctional Facility

CORRECTIONAL SUPERVISOR OF THE YEAR

Sergeant Elijah Caron, California State Prison, Sacramento

CORRECTIONAL PEACE OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Correctional Officer Eli Davis, Chuckawalla Valley State Prison

EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR

Warden Ronald Rackley, California Health Care Facility, Stockton