Detective

Other

2/5/2010

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

Homicide detectives from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, including safety personnel from allied agencies in the town of Minkler, attempted to serve a search warrant. The search warrant team, comprised of Detectives Mark Chapman, Mark Eaton, Joel Wahlenmaier and Robert McEwen, approached the house. The other personnel surrounded the perimeter of the home. The team knocked and announced their presence, and demanded entry several times. The team then broke down an exterior porch door to gain entry, however, they discovered another locked door. Detectives again announced their presence and demanded entry, yet the suspect refused. As Detective Wahlenmaier hit the door with a ram, the suspect, who was lying-in-wait, began shooting through the closed door. Detective Wahlenmaier was shot and immediately collapsed. Detective McEwen instinctively covered Detective Wahlenmaier with his own body, to protect him from further harm. As the gun battle ensued, Sergeant Lopez and Detective Toscano attempted for several minutes to pull Detective Wahlenmaier from the porch, however, his equipment caught on the door frame. Deputy Harris returned cover fire, allowing other deputies to free Detective Wahlenmaier while the gunfire continued. Deputy Harris sustained an injury to his right eye and the right side of his face from a fragmented bullet fired by the suspect. Deputy Harris continued to return cover fire. As the gun battle continued, it was learned that Fresno County Sheriff’s Detective Wahlenmaier was mortally wounded. An additional tragedy was the loss of Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar who was shot and killed by the suspect while aiding sheriff deputies, as you will hear in the next citation. The standoff ultimately ended when the suspect took his own life.