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Robert Welch

State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/19/1988

Special Act Award (Gold)

Gold Medal of Valor
On December 19, 1988, at approximately 8:30 p.m., Officer Robert E. Welch and his partner received a radio call describing a woman standing on the outside of an overcrossing above the northbound traffic lanes of the SR 41 freeway. Upon their arrival at the scene, it was apparent to the officers that the distraught woman intended to jump. Due to the urgency of the situation and while his partner engaged the woman in conversation, Officer Welch, without regard for his own personal safety, made his way around the barrier fence and onto a narrow ledge along the outside edge of the overcrossing. Despite the falling rain and traffic movement, Officer Welch made his way approximately 30 feet along the ledge to where the woman was standing and was able to pin her close to the fence by wrapping his right arm around her body and grasping the fence with his fingers. He held the woman against the fence for approximately twenty minutes before the fire department was able to move a ladder into position and remove the woman and Officer Welch from the overcrossing. The quick and unselfish actions of Officer Welch clearly prevented the distraught woman from ending her life.