Correctional Sergeant

California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

1/8/2018

Special Act Award (Gold)

On January 8, 2018, at 11:00 p.m., California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Correctional Sergeant Hector Villarreal of Pleasant Valley State Prison was driving with his family through Kerman, California when a Chevrolet Silverado pulled alongside them. The other driver brandished a black semi-automatic firearm at Sergeant Villarreal and his family. Office Villarreal shouted for his family to get down in their seats as he made several attempts to steer away from the other vehicle. The gunman pursued, staying on the family's tail. Realizing that the gunman was not going to stop following them, Sergeant Villarreal pulled into a gas station and parked his vehicle in a safe location. He told his family to stay in the vehicle and call the police. In an attempt to draw the gunman away from his family, Sergeant Villarreal un-holstered his off-duty weapon and shouted at two people getting gas to seek shelter and call the police. Sergeant Villarreal took cover and called the Kerman Police Department while keeping an eye on the gunman, who remained in his vehicle parked near the gas pumps. Local police arrived and Sergeant Villarreal updated them on the situation. Kerman police officers surrounded the suspect’s vehicle with weapons drawn and Sergeant Villarreal alongside them. The suspect was placed into handcuffs while other responding law enforcement officers provided coverage. A search of the suspect’s vehicle revealed a .380 semi-automatic handgun and methamphetamine. The suspect was taken into custody on firearm and drug possession charges, as well as an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license. Further investigation by the Fresno Sheriff’s Forensic Laboratory team revealed the suspect's weapon matched the bullets recovered from a shooting spree in five different locations in the Kerman area between November 27 and December 17, 2017. The shootings left one person with shrapnel wounds from broken glass. With no regard for his own safety, Sergeant Villarreal went above and beyond the call of duty. The State of California takes great pride in presenting this Gold Medal of Valor to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Correctional Sergeant Hector Villarreal.