Police, Civilians to Be Honored for Heroism
One deputy ran into rush-hour traffic on the Ventura Freeway to save a suicidal man and six other officers risked their lives to save people trapped by fire.
These are the stories behind the seven recipients of the Medal of Valor, who will be honored tonight at an annual dinner hosted by the Peace Officers Assn. of Ventura County.
Fifteen peace officers and civilians will receive medals. Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Lisa Whitney, who was killed in the line of duty in August, will also be honored posthumously with the Distinguished Service Medal.
The Medal of Valor winners are sheriff’s deputies Gus Gonzalez, Steve Arthur, Robert Hull, John Hajducko, Kevin Clancy and Senior Deputy Marty Luna. The seventh recipient is Simi Valley Police Officer Brian Ward.
Clancy tackled the despondent suicidal man and the other recipients were heroes in fires, said Sheriff’s Sgt. Larry Baugher, an association board member.
A Medal of Merit will be given to Sheriff’s Sgt. Ray Negel for saving a mounted posse member. In the course of the rescue, a horse rolled on top of Negel, who is still recovering from his injuries.
Seven citizens will receive medals of merit for their heroic acts.
They are Tod Deardorff, Michael Jones, Dulanie Ellis-LaBarre, Ron Speakman, Harry Jaedtke and two girls under 13, Ashley Pistilla and Wendy Pebles, who saved two other young girls from drowning.
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