Long Beach Police Department

Other

5/30/2002

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

"On Thursday, May 30, 2002, at 1727 hours, Officer B. Milovich was dispatched to the Top Value Market, 421 Pacific Avenue, regarding a possible Assault with a Deadly Weapon occurring now, with three subjects down. Additional information was broadcast that shots were being fired from inside the market. Officer Milovich was the first to arrive on scene and was immediately met by hysterical citizens, who were pleading for him to help them, advising him that there was a man inside the store shooting innocent victims. At this time, Community Policing Officers W. Johnston, and C. Crawford assisted Officer Milovich. The Three of them formed an Emergency Action Team (EAT) and without hesitation or regard for their own safety, entered the store. The officers had limited information as to the suspect's description and were immediately confronted by numerous victims, who were frantically trying to leave the store. The officers showed great restraint with these people, not knowing if one of them was possibly the suspect. The officers observed at least two victims on the ground, who were mortally wounded, one of them being an 8-year-old child. There were additional shooting victims within the store, bleeding. With the carnage in front of them, the officers were still able to maintain their focus and subsequently isolated the suspect, who was armed with two handguns. The suspect pointed his weapon at Officer Milovich, at which time Officers Johnston and Crawford engaged the suspect in a gun battle and mortally wounded him. Officers Milovich, Johnston, and Crawford are to be commended for the tremendous job they did on that night. By their actions, in a manner that was well above and beyond the call of duty, each of these officers demonstrated uncommon valor by directly placing their lives on the line to prevent the suspect from shooting anyone else. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the immediate actions of Officers Milovich, Johnston, and Crawford saved many lives. The suspect clearly possessed the weaponry and ammunition with which he could have taken many more lives. The community and our Department are very fortunate to have these valiant officers dedicated to our service. They clearly demonstrated that they possess the attributes that we all aspire to, bravery, character, discipline and the willingness to truly protect and serve the citizens of Long Beach."