14 Officers to be Presented the Highest Honors, the Medal of Valor, Purple Heart & the Preservation of Life Awards – NA22089ti

WHAT:
The Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony.
During the formal program, Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore will present the Department’s highest honors to 14 officers who knowingly, and willingly placed themselves in grave danger. FOX 11 News Anchor Elex Michaelson will emcee the event and narrate the stories of heroism that accompany the officers’ body-worn, and in-car videos.

WHEN:
Thursday, October 20, 2022
• 11:30 a.m. Program
• 12:15 p.m. Luncheon
• 12:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony

WHERE:
Westin Bonaventure Hotel – California Ballroom
404 S. Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, California 90071

WHO:
• Los Angeles Chief of Police Michel R. Moore
• FOX 11 News Anchor Elex Michaelson
• Mark Jenkins, pilot rescued by LAPD officers after his plane crashed on railroad tracks.

WHY:
To recognize real-life events that exemplify stories of bravery and heroism.

During the awards presentation, the audience will view and listen to body-worn, and in-car videos revealing some of the split-second, and life altering decisions officers are faced with when serving the community. Some of the larger-than-life situations include:

• On Sunday, January 9, 2022, the pilot of a single-engine plane lost power shortly after takeoff and crash landed on the railroad track. Officers from Foothill Division arrived to the intersection and immediately took action to rescue pilot Mark Jenkins, just seconds before a Metrolink train collided with his plane. For reference, Mr. Jenkins will attend the awards ceremony in support of the officers who saved his life.

• On May 28, 2021, Community Safety Partnership Bureau Officers were working at South Park when they were told that someone was drowning in the pool. The pool was filled with dirt and debris making it nearly impossible to see and locate the possible drowning victim. The officers, both who did not know how to swim, jumped in the water to look for the drowning victim. They found the unconscious person, brought them poolside and administered CPR.

• On March 16, 2021, a man under the influence of narcotics, armed with a rifle and an illegally manufactured pistol, was shooting indiscriminately into the air before barricading himself inside a home. The Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team was called to the scene and the Crisis Negotiation Team spent hours trying to establish a dialogue with the suspect. During their many attempts to negotiate his surrender, the suspect shot one of the SWAT Officers multiple times. Bleeding profusely, the officer was pulled from the line of fire while the suspect continued his grievous attack. Soon thereafter, the SWAT Officers stopped the suspect and any further danger to the community and the injured officer was transported to the hospital for medical treatment.

• On a dark evening on January 13, 2021, officers from Newton Division assisted with traffic control near a traffic accident. To bring attention to approaching motorists, the officers used the police car’s amber lights in addition to their flashlights to direct and slow down traffic. Most motorists followed the officers’ direction and slowed as they passed the car crash, however one driver failed to slow down, swerved at a high rate of speed and struck one of the officers causing critical injuries. After a valiant fight for his life, Officer Jose Anzora passed away from his injuries and will posthumously receive the distinguished Purple Heart Award.

• On January 9, 2021, an off-duty officer was at home when he heard a loud car crash. He went outside and saw a car with severe collision damage and flames erupting from underneath the hood. He rushed to help the driver out of the car and saw an unconscious driver trapped between the driver’s seat and the steering wheel. Despite the thick smoke and extreme temperature, the off-duty officer pulled the driver out of the burning car to safety.

• On July 27, 2018, Officers from Mission Division conducted a traffic stop. When the officers approached to talk with the driver, the driver aggressively opened the car door, pulled out a handgun, and shot one of the officers. The suspect turned and shot at the other officer who returned fire and stopped the deadly threat.

ADDITIONAL:
The Above & Beyond Ceremony is hosted by the Los Angeles Police Foundation (LAPF), an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides critical resources and vital support to the Los Angeles Police Department. The Foundation provides funding for essential equipment, state-of-the-art technology and upgrades, specialized training, community outreach and youth programs that would otherwise not be funded. The Foundation directly improves public safety, impacts officer readiness, and enhances quality of life. Since its founding in 1998, the LAPF has awarded more than $46 million in grants to help the LAPD serve at its highest level in order to keep our communities and families safe.

The 2022 Above and Beyond Awards Ceremony is presented by Crown Robinson Philanthropy.

INTERVIEWS:
Medal of Valor, Purple Heart and Preservation of Life recipients will be available for interviews on Thursday, October 20, 2022. On the day of the event, please meet with LAPD Media Relations Division Public Information Officers at the media riser.

CONTACT:
For more information, please contact Police Officer Sara Faden, Office of the Chief of Staff, at (213) 841-2064. For additional information regarding the Los Angeles Police Foundation, please call Dana Katz, LAPF Executive Director at (213) 489-4636, or visit: www.supportLAPD.org.