Correctional Officer

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

5/24/2017

Special Act Award (Gold)

On May 24, 2017, at 10:20 a.m., in the Pelican Bay State Prison outdoor exercise yard, holding approximately three hundred inmates, a one-on-one fight started. Correctional officers responded to the fight to stop the incident. While responding staff were attempting to quell the incident, approximately 130 inmates began rushing and attacking the officers. Officer Travis Molina was attacked by a mob of inmates. While fighting for his life, he could see that a fellow officer had been knocked to the ground and the inmates were hitting and kicking the downed officer. Officer Molina tried to get to the officer who was merely five feet away, but due to the large number of attacking inmates was not able to reach the now unconscious officer. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Molina’s heroic act saved the lives of fellow officers and inmates in the face of a large prison fight. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Correctional Officer Travis Molina.