Sheriff Jim McDonnell honored 33 Department members, one retired LASD sheriff’s deputy and one California Highway Patrol officer at the 2016 Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Valor Awards Ceremony.  The event was held at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center arena, and elegantly narrated by special guest and master of ceremonies, David Ono, anchor of ABC7 Eyewitness News.  Mr. Ono narrated many harrowing incidents over the years faced by the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, while faithfully serving the citizens in over 4,000 square miles of Los Angeles County.

The 34th Annual Valor Awards Ceremony is proven to be the best and most memorable ceremony to date.  The event began with the pomp and circumstance of the Drum and Bagpipe Corps which filled Galen Center with an atmosphere of honor, hope and celebration.

Early in the ceremony was a warm and heartfelt tribute in memory of recently slain LASD Sergeant Steve Owen.  Sergeant Owen’s heroics stood out among the many other recipients who were also recognized for their acts of valor despite the danger they faced.  A video presentation highlighting Sergeant Owen’s life and career was shown, and included highlights from the 2014 Valor Awards ceremony.  He received the Meritorious Conduct-Gold award for saving a kidnapping victim and capturing two armed robbery suspects in Lancaster, 2013.  His wife, Arson/Explosives Detail detective, Deputy Tania Owen, and the Owen family were in attendance.

United States Air Force Staff Sergeant Spencer Stone, a military Purple Heart award recipient, attended the event as an honored guest and was the keynote speaker.  In November, 2015, Staff Sergeant Stone aided in disarming a gunman and prevented the massacre of dozens of passengers on a Paris-bound train.

Among the recipients of awards were deputies from the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) Special Weapons Team.  They rescued hostages held at gunpoint by a dangerous assailant at a Downey restaurant on Thursday, September 10, 2015.  For their tremendous courage, heroism and determination to save the victims, and with full knowledge of the risk involved by engaging an armed suspect, Sergeant Kamal Ahmad, Deputy Darell A. Edwards, Deputy Gonzalo Galvez and Deputy Ricardo Munoz were awarded with this year’s highest award, the Medal of Valor.

On Sunday, October 18, 2015, an off-duty custody assistant came upon a crash scene on California State Route 60 in Hacienda Heights.  A charter bus was on fire and quickly filling with smoke.  Without hesitation, Custody Assistant Jesse Hernandez took quick action and opened the jammed door of the bus, saving the lives of 42 people trapped inside.  For his tremendous bravery and great heroism while placing himself in immediate life-threatening peril, Jesse Hernandez received the Meritorious Conduct Medal —Gold.

Deputy Javier Tiscareno, who donated a portion of his liver to help save the life of his partner, Deputy Jorge Castro, was awarded the Humanitarian Medal.  These acts of bravery and selflessness culminated a small portion of the many good works performed by Department members every day which often go unnoticed by the general public.

In 1982, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Valor Awards Program was established to officially and publicly recognize the exceptionally heroic acts performed by members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

These awards signify courage, acts of heroism while saving the life of another, traumatic physical injury while performing their job, preservation of human life, personal commitment, and sacrifice to help others.  Deputy sheriffs are called upon to fluidly handle unexpected, challenging and dynamic situations. They do not shy away from uncertainty and work hard to make peace for others, often times at personal risk.  Every day, the men and women of the LASD perform their duties in a professional manner.  Today, however, this program honors those who extended themselves extraordinarily beyond what was required or asked of them.

Recipients of the 2016 Valor Awards

Medal of Valor

Sergeant Abel Jimenez

Deputy Adrian Rendon

Deputy Marlin Conde

Deputy Eric J. Valdez

Deputy Jordan J. Hempstead

Sergeant Kamal M. Ahmad

Deputy Luis S. Lezama

Deputy Darell A. Edwards

Deputy Albert Macias

Deputy Gonzalo Galvez

Deputy Roger E. Para

Deputy Ricardo Munoz

Meritorious Conduct — Gold

Deputy Hugo Barajas

Deputy Andrea E. De La Cruz

Deputy Patricia Casas

Custody Assistant Sylvia G. Granados

Deputy Jaime H. De La Cerda

Custody Assistant Jessie Hernandez

Deputy Dwayne O. Javier

Meritorious Conduct – Silver

Deputy Andrew H. Alatorre

Sergeant Robert J. Blunt

Deputy Fernando Galvan-Aguilar

Deputy Gordon L. Baker

Deputy Daniel D. Gonzalez

Deputy Robert D. Seminaris

Deputy Eduardo Muniz

David Allis (LASD – Retired Deputy)

Deputy Manuel Navarro

Deputy Daniel R. Leon

Purple Heart Medal

Deputy Edmundo Perez

Sergeant Christopher J. Fernandez

Deputy Richard C. Adams

Humanitarian, Lifesaving and Line of Duty Medals

Sergeant Burton L. Brink

Officer Scott P. Riley, California Highway Patrol

Deputy Javier Tiscareno