2 Officers Get Medals for Roles in Shootout

Two Santa Ana police officers who braved gunfire to confront and shoot an armed man who had barricaded himself in his home were honored Wednesday night with the Police Department’s Medal of Valor.

Cpl. Gary Miranda and Officer Ken Witt were the first to receive the department’s highest honor since 1977, when another officer was recognized for risking his life in a gun battle.

Miranda and Witt were among officers who stormed a home in the 2600 block of Saint Andrew Place, where 39-year-old Ramiro Valencia Perez had held police at bay for more than six hours. Perez was shot and killed during the Aug. 24 siege.

Other officers involved in the shootout were honored Wednesday at the department’s awards banquet at the Embassy Suites hotel.

Purple Hearts were given to Officer Eric Rimat, shot in the arm by Perez, and posthumously to Rimat’s K-9 partner, a Czech-trained German shepherd named Endy, who was also wounded in the incident. Other officers were recognized with service awards for their actions during the siege.

Troy Guidry, praised for his efforts to shut down houses used as “crash pads” by street gangs, was named Officer of the Year. Joe Perez was honored as investigator of the year for his work with the gang unit.

A commendation was given to Officers Andre Howard and Louis Roman for their efforts to free a toddler trapped by an electric gate and administering lifesaving techniques that helped save the boy’s life.

Officer Tony Duran received a Distinguished Service Award for bravery during a confrontation with an armed robbery suspect.

Service Medals went to six officers--including Costa Mesa Officer John Susman, who is a member of a police helicopter crew--who showed “courage under fire” while confronting a sniper who stationed himself atop his roof in the 2400 block of South Towner Street.

Ronald G. Theander, 35, was shot and killed Nov. 14 by police after he sprayed a residential street with gunfire and shot at the hovering police helicopter. Medals also went to Officers Mike Buelna, Barry Davies, Jeff Van Es, Mike Gonzalez and Paul Hayes.