Warden

Department of Fish and Wildlife

12/2/2006

Special Act Award (Gold)

On December 2, 2006, at approximately 7:00 p.m., California Department of Fish and Game, Warden Frank D. Milazzo, was on patrol near Coulterville, California, when he overheard radio traffic from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office. They were sending an officer in response to an armed suicidal, and perhaps homicidal, man who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Warden Milazzo responded to the remote foothill location to assist the Sheriff’s office. Once on scene, Warden Milazzo and the Sheriff’s Deputy and Reserve Officer were confronted by a man waving a loaded revolver. The man threatened to kill himself and then wanted the officers to kill him, and proceeded to point the weapon at his head several times. Warden Milazzo talked to the suspect, established a rapport, and encouraged him to surrender his weapon. As the man continued to threaten the officers and himself, Warden Milazzo saw that the hammer of the revolver was cocked back in the firing position. He continued to taunt the officers, hoping they would kill him. In order to keep talking to the suspect, Warden Milazzo was forced to move to him, occasionally exposing himself to potential gunfire during the slow moving standoff. This continued for approximately 35 minutes as the officers waited for additional backup units. During this entire event, Warden Milazzo placed himself at great personal risk to assist the Sheriff’s Deputies, while trying to save the man’s life. When additional Deputies arrived, they were able to subdue the man with a “less than lethal” round from a shotgun. Warden Milazzo showed incredible resolve and professionalism in the face of danger. He didn’t hesitate to respond and assist an allied agency during a critical incident, and his actions helped to subdue the suspect and allow deputies to take him into custody.