Sergeant

California Highway Patrol

1/28/2003

Special Act Award (Gold)

California Highway Patrol Sergeant Donald Jordan, and Officer Eric Degraffenreid, on January 28, 2003, performed an act of heroism at great risk to their personal safety when they successfully rescued a citizen from a burning vehicle. At 8:40 p.m., Sergeant Jordan was conducting a ride-along with Officer Degraffenreid and monitored a radio-dispatch call regarding a traffic collision, caused by a horse running loose in freeway traffic lanes on Interstate 5. As Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid responded to the area, they encountered another vehicle, which had struck the horse, veered across the southbound and northbound lanes, and had partially overturned in a ditch adjacent to the freeway. The vehicle, a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, was almost engulfed in flames as Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid arrived at the scene. Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid encountered the passenger, Mr. Cyrus Jenkins, staggering outside the vehicle injured and disoriented. He advised Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid that his wife, Mrs. Earnie Jenkins, 67-years-old, was trapped in the burning vehicle. Both Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid rushed to the burning vehicle without hesitation. As the flames spread throughout the engine and passenger compartment of the vehicle, the seriously injured, and disoriented female victim could not free herself from the driver's seat. Due to the awkward angel of the vehicle, both employees were forced to expose their hands and forearms to the flames in order to free the victim. Both employees struggled to free the occupant as flames engulfed the passenger compartment and driver's seat area. Both flame and harsh smoke greatly jeopardized the safety of both employees as they struggled to free the driver from the burning vehicle. Just prior to the point when rescue would have been impossible due to the rapidly encroaching flames, the employees managed to pull the victim out of the vehicle. A moment later, the vehicle exploded into flames and set a nearby building afire. Unquestionable, the actions of these brave employees saved Mrs. Jenkins' life. The victim sustained moderate injuries as a result of the collision and credited the officers with saving her life. Sergeant Jordan sustained minor burn and smoke injuries as a result of the rescue. The actions of Sergeant Jordan and Officer Degraffenreid were truly courageous and performed at great peril to their own lives "above and beyond the call of duty."