Highway Patrol Officer

Department of Justice

5/9/2013

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

On October 25, 2012, at 10:00 p.m., Officer Dane Norem of the California Highway Patrol was dispatched to investigate a possible suicidal male climbing the overpass fence over State Route 91. He arrived to find the pedestrian scaling the fence apparently determined to hurtle himself from the overpass onto the freeway 40 feet below. Convinced that should the pedestrian jumped, not only he would die but unsuspecting freeway drivers and passengers would be put in severe jeopardy as well, Officer Norm charged the pedestrian and grabbed his leg as the pedestrian straddled the top of the overpass fence. Unfortunately, Officer Norem was unaware he was confronting a transient under the influence of illicit drugs who had been experiencing paranoid thoughts against law enforcement personnel. Desperate to free himself, the pedestrian, now a suspect, drew a utility knife from his jacket and began repeatedly stabbing Officer Norem in the face, arm, and upper shoulder. Concerned for the safety of others, Officer Norem continued to hold onto the man’s leg despite his injuries, and being stabbed, until additional units arrived. A second CHP Officer arrived and struck the suspect with a nonasd-lethal fired from a shotgun, toppling the suspect off the fence and back onto the overpass where he was taken into custody. Officer Norem was transported to a hospital and underwent surgery for his stab wounds and severe eye injury. He is expected to make a full recovery. The suspect was booked on several charges, including attempted murder of a peace officer.