Sergeant

California Highway Patrol

3/27/2017

Special Act Award (Gold)

On March 27, 2017, at approximately 12:45 p.m., a driver experienced dizziness, lost control of her vehicle and drove it into the All American Canal on State Route 186. As her vehicle began to sink in the strong current, she was able to free herself and enter the frigid water where she grabbed and held onto a protruding water flow meter pole. A passing motorist stopped at the scene and utilized a tow strap to pull her toward him. California Highway Patrol Officer Gilbert Caldera arrived and formed a rescue line from two 30-foot long dog leashes. He threw one end of the line to the woman and descended the concrete wall to the ledge next to her. California Highway Patrol Sergeant Jose Serrano then arrived and noticed the rescue line was untied from her. He maneuvered himself along the top of a dangerously narrow 18 inch wide concrete wall, retrieved the end of the rescue line, and lowered it to Officer Caldera. A bystander provided a life jacket which Officer Caldera managed to place on the woman despite the strong current. A ladder was also provided and lowered into the water to assist with the rescue. Due to the strong current, Officer Caldera was forced to hold onto the tow strap with one hand and the ladder with his other hand while balancing himself on the narrow ledge to keep the ladder from being swept away. With Sergeant Serrano pulling the woman from above while carefully maintaining his balance to prevent himself from falling into the swift and frigid water, they helped the woman climb up the ladder to medical aid. With no regard to his own safety, Sergeant Serrano went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Silver Medal of Valor to California Highway Patrol Sergeant Jose Serrano.