State Police Officer

California State Police

10/17/1989

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 5 p.m., Officer Pedro Cruz was patrolling the downtown area of Oakland at the time of the Loma Prieta earthquake and immediately responded to the disaster scene. Aware that the structure was unstable and that aftershocks could occur at any moment, Officer Cruz climbed onto the collapsed freeway administering first aid to injured victims and organizing the removal of a number of victims to a safer place on the ground. Without regard for his own safety, Officer Cruz continued his search by climbing into a small opening between the collapsed upper and lower levels of the overpass. As Officer Cruz maneuvered among the broken glass, rubble, leaking gasoline and oil checking crushed vehicles for survivors, he located one unconscious man and dragged him to the edge of the roadway where the victim was moved to safety. Upon re-entering the collapsed structure, Officer Cruz located an elderly couple in a crushed vehicle with serious injuries. With the assistance of three Naval Officers, Officer Cruz pried the doors open and removed the couple to a safer location. After approximately four hours of assisting victims at the disaster scene, Officer Cruz returned to the State Policy Command Post and worked an additional 12 hours before being relieved of duty.