Los Gatos Monte Sereno Police Officer

Other

10/17/2008

Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor

On October 17, 2008, Officers Paul and Romeo received a call that a car had left a driveway and gone backwards down a steep embankment on an isolated hillside. The older couple in the car was uninjured, but the driver, now holding the brake, was unable to leave the car without it sliding further down the hill. Officers Paul and Romeo had to first scale a locked gate and then search for the car in the dark. Footing was treacherous when the officers located the vehicle, and when the victim attempted to exit the car, it started to slide further down the hill. There was no way to brace the car, so Officer Romeo held the driver's door while Officer Paul continued pressure on the brake with his hands, exposing his body to a rollover threat, but relieving the exhausted driver. Officer Paul and Romeo held these positions for over a half hour as fire personnel worked to set up rigging to stabilize the car. When the officers themselves began to tire, they devised a plan to extricate the driver in a sudden move pulling him free. As this plan was deployed, the driver was rescued, but Officer Romeo was dragged down the hill by the now released car as he continued to hold the door for the rescue. Fortunately no one was injured in the incident.