California Highway Patrol Officer

California Highway Patrol

10/25/2012

Special Act Award (Gold)

On October 25, 2012, at approximately 9:51 p.m., California Highway Patrol Officer Dane Norem responded to a call of a pedestrian crying, possibly suicidal, and climbing the overpass fence of State Route 91 in Riverside. The pedestrian, unknown to the officer, was under the influence of drugs and having paranoid thoughts. He also had a utility knife. When Officer Norem arrived he noticed the man sitting on the sidewalk against the overpass bridge railing. When the man saw Officer Norem approaching him, he began to scale the fence, so Officer Norem exited his patrol car and ran towards the man. Officer Norem grabbed the man’s right leg as he straddled the top of the fence, preventing him from falling onto the freeway below. In an attempt to free himself, the man pulled the utility knife out of his jacket and began stabbing the officer multiple times in the face, arm, and upper shoulder. Two off duty law enforcement officers stopped and ordered him to drop his knife, but he just waved it at them. They attempted to stop him, but the physical struggle continued. Officer Norem held on to the man’s right leg for over two minutes even though he was stabbed multiple times, including a severe puncture wound to his right eye. When a second CHP officer arrived on the scene, the officer used a less than lethal shotgun. The man fell off the top of the fence and was immediately taken into custody. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to Officer Dane Norem.