Officer

California Highway Patrol

10/17/1989

Special Act Award (Gold)

On October 17, 1989, at 5:00 pm, Officer James Goodman was performing motorcycle patrol duties in the area of the Interstate 880 Cypress Free structure when the Loma Prieta earthquake occurred. Officer Goodman immediately responded to the disaster scene. After providing aid and assistance to numerous injured people on the ground, Officer Goodman climbed onto the unstable freeway structure searching for survivors. Frequent aftershocks were occurring and the structure continued to settle. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Goodman crawled into an area of the collapsed structure and located a seriously injured victim trapped in a truck crushed to a height of about two feet. In his efforts to maneuver through the small space to reach the victim, Officer Goodman was forced to removed his helmet and gun belt to function in the cramped space. In an attempt to free the driver, he removed the stuffing from the driver’s seat and cut the seat springs. Officer Goodman was later joined by other rescuers including fellow Officer Arnold Stamps. Despite the extreme hazardous and life threatening conditions for the officer and rescuers, they continued their efforts for several hours in confined quarters strewn with glass, rubble and spilled gasoline. Approximately three hours later, firefighters arrived with the Jaws of Life. Despite exhaustion, Officer Goodman continued to provide assistance to the rescue workers until the trapped driver was freed from the wreckage and removed from the structure.