Officer

California Highway Patrol

6/26/2020

Special Act Award (Gold)

At 3:42 a.m. on June 26, 2020, Officer John Gallemore attempted to perform a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle traveling 86 miles per hour, in a 65-mile per hour speed zone. The vehicle failed to yield to the officer’s lights and siren and a high-speed pursuit reached speeds of 105 miles per hour on a relatively traffic-less freeway. The vehicle veered off of the roadway, crashing into a large tree, then rolling over and erupting in flames. Officer Gallemore and Officer Barnes responded to the occupants yelling for help, with Officer Gallemore breaking the driver’s side window and the two officers removing two of the occupants from the flaming vehicle. The two occupants confirmed a third passenger was still in the vehicle. Officer Barnes instantly climbed headfirst into the smoke-filled passenger compartment. Officer Barnes located an unconscious passenger in the front passenger seat with his legs pinned due to the crash. He utilized a pocketknife to cut the man’s restraint and then pulled on the man’s torso and arms. The passenger’s sweatshirt slipped off, causing Officer Barnes to lose his grip as he was overwhelmed by the smoke. Switching places, Officer Gallemore entered the vehicle headfirst and grabbed onto the passenger’s arms. He continued to pull until the passenger’s legs were freed from the wreckage. Officer Gallemore felt the passenger slip, calling for Officer Barnes to help. Together, both officers lifted the passenger from the vehicle before the flames entered the passenger compartment. They brought the unconscious passenger about 25 feet away from the vehicle, just as the vehicle was overtaken by flames. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Gallemore went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Officer John Gallemore.