Correctoinal 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, with 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 Sergio Chavez ran to the aid of an officer who was on the ground, getting badly beaten by a large group of inmates. Officer Chavez engaged this group of inmates with his baton. Many of the inmates immediately turned their attack on Officer Chavez. In his attempt to save his fellow officer’s life, he allowed the inmates to turn on him. Officer Chavez was quickly overwhelmed by the large group of inmates and one of the inmates punched Officer Chavez in the face, breaking his nose. Officer Chavez was struck many more times ultimately knocking him to the ground. While on the ground multiple inmates were kicking him in the face, head and torso while others were trying to get his baton away from him. Officer Chavez was able to retain his baton and was soon escorted off the yard by other staff members. Officer Chavez put his own life in danger by immediately responding to help another officer. Because Officer Chavez responded and utilized force, drawing the attention away from the officer on the ground, he helped save that officer's life. With no regard for his own safety, Officer Chavez’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 Sergio Chavez.