Officer

California Highway Patrol

2/25/2010

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

Officer Sean Haller and Officer Rafael Rivera of the California Highway Patrol responded to a distress call of “officer needs assistance,” involving an active shooter and wounded sheriff’s deputy. They arrived on the scene and immediately became involved in a gunfight, along with other allied agency and CHP officers. Officer Rivera heard someone yell “officer down” and located wounded Reedly Police Officer Javier Bejar. Officer Rivera started to extract Bejar, risking his personal safety by putting himself directly into the line of fire. Officer Haller realized that Officer Rivera needed help and increased his rifle fire toward the suspect. By increasing his “suppression fire,” and placing himself in great danger, Officer Haller was able to provide the needed help for Officer Rivera to continue his extraction of Officer Bejar. Although Officer Bejar was successfully removed from the area and transported from the scene, he subsequently died from his injuries.