Officer

California Highway Patrol

2/23/2001

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 2:15 a.m., on February 23, 2001, Officer Eric Paulson and Officer Christopher Bougher were on routine patrol. The officers completed an enforcement stop in the city of Placentia and were traveling on surface streets, when Officer Paulson observed heavy smoke and flames emitting from the front of a residential structure on Melrose Street. As the officers exited the vehicle, they made contact with Ms. Denise Ruiz, who told them that there were occupants and “her baby” in the burning structure. Officer Bougher contacted the Orange County Communications Center to advise them of the situation and to request fire department response. Officer Paulson approached the front of the residence and entered the unlocked front door. Due to the heavy smoke and heat, he positioned himself on hands and knees and began to “low crawl” through the structure in an attempt to locate and remove any occupants. Officer Bougher joined him, and they began a systematic search, crawling room to room. Both officers heard a baby crying, and they quickly moved toward the sound. The officers also located several male adults and directed them to exit the building. While continuing to search for more occupants, the officers encountered a woman standing in the kitchen who appeared to be holding a baby. Due to the heavy smoke, they were unable to see the baby. The woman exited the building through the rear door, and Officer Paulson and Officer Bougher followed her. Both officers assisted the woman and baby as they walked to the side of the property and to the front of the residence. While the officers were at the side of the residence, they contacted several parties, who related there were more individuals to the rear of the residence, in a separate structure. Officer Paulson and Officer Bougher went to the rear of the residence. They knocked on the door of the separate structure and yelled to gain the attention of any possible occupants. Three adult males exited the structure. The officers subsequently assisted the three men to the front of the residence. Personnel from the Placentia Police Department arrived on the scene. As Officer Paulson advised the arriving unit of the situation, Officer Bougher and Placentia Police Officer DeCoste walked to the rear of the residence and conducted a final check of the structure. Officer Bougher and Officer DeCoste contacted another adult male at the rear of the residence. The officers assisted in the removal of this individual as personnel from Orange County Fire Department extinguished the flames.