Manager I

Department of Motor Vehicles

3/4/2015

Special Service Award (Silver)

On March 4, 2015, at approximately 1:30 p.m., California Department of Motor Vehicles Manager I Jose A. Peñate was informed by security guards in the Fresno Office that there was a loud confrontation taking place between several groups of young men in the lobby. Determined to assess the situation for himself, Mr. Peñate and the two security guards entered the lobby, which holds approximately 200 customers, and approached four young men, who were later identified as gang members. Mr. Peñate started talking to the young men, hoping to speed up their departure and avoid trouble. As they spoke, another group of men, also identified as gang members, entered the lobby and began shouting expletives at the first group. The two groups moved toward each other aggressively. Mr. Peñate and the security guards stepped between them and tried to usher the first group out the door, but to no avail. Realizing a fight was eminent, Mr. Peñate instructed the security guards to direct the customers in the lobby to safety, then dodging chairs that were being thrown by the gang members as the fighting commenced, Mr. Peñate maneuvered his way to the employee work area and advised employees to move away from the fighting. The security guards remained in the lobby trying to control the situation.