Exemplary Performance Award
Special Agent Francisco Cortez
Calif. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement
From May 1, 2008, thru December 31, 2008, Special Agent Frank Cortez' contribution to narcotic enforcement have resulted in exceptional seizures of narcotics and monies as well as arrests of narcotic violators.
The following investigations demonstrate Special Agent Cortez' exemplary performance during this deployment period.
In May 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a wiretap investigation on Pedro Serrano and intercepted a call where Serrano mentioned he was going to pick up an unknown amount of money in the San Bernardino/Los Angeles area. Special Agent Cortez set up surveillance and subsequently observed Serrano travel from San Bernardino County to Los Angeles County and engage in behavior consistent with narcotics trafficking. The work of Special Agent Cortez resulted in the seizure of $260,000.
On June 24, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a wiretap investigation on Jose Rochin Soto. Special Agent Cortez intercepted a call mentioning Rochin Soto. Soto was going to pick up an undetermined amount of money. Special Agent Cortez coordinated surveillance and resulted in the seizure of $129,502 from the car Soto, a.k.a. "THE MEDIC", was driving.
On July 12, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a wiretap investigation on Rigoberto Serna, German Fernandez, and Marco Hara for suspected cocaine smuggling. Special Agent Cortez intercepted a telephone call indicating German Fernandez would be driving a load of cocaine into the United States from Mexicali, Mexico. Special Agent Cortez located Fernandez and the load car and coordinated a CHP stop of Fernandez' vehicle resulting in the seizure of 15 kilos of cocaine.
On August 27, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a "Reverse Sting" operation on suspects Jose Leon-Martinez, Martin Angel, Anthony Monroy and Roberto Martinez, who wanted to purchase 40 kilos of cocaine from Special Agent Cortez. He met with them and obtained a search warrant for their residence resulting in the discovery and seizure of $255,030.
On September 1, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a "reverse sting" investigation on suspects Conrado Valenzuela Herrera, Jose Valenzuela Herrera, Jesus A, Rentana, Victor Espinoza Reyes, Vihn V. Bang and Michael D. Hoong. They attempted to buy 40 kilograms of cocaine from Special Agent Cortez who was acting in an undercover capacity. The suspect's vehicle (2005 Toyota Camry) was stopped by CHP resulting in the seizure of$ 479,716. On September 4, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a "reverse sting" investigation on suspects Manuel Diaz, Antonio Zavala, Jose Eseberra, Wilberth Lopez,
Jorge Aguilar Jr. and Priscilla Marquez. The suspects attempted to purchase 20 kilos of cocaine from Special Agent Cortez. They delivered $402,525 to Special Agent Cortez and were arrested.
On October 10, 2008, Special Agent Cortez conducted a "reverse sting" investigation on Ana Gonzalez de Montjoy, Gabriel Pelaez, Maria Stroud and David Menefield who wanted to purchase 40 kilos of cocaine. Special Agent Cortez identified the financier, Menefield, kept the "buy" money in a Van Nuys condominium and subsequently obtained a search warrant. During a subsequent search of Suspect Menefield’s residence, $1,069,279 was discovered and seized.
On October 2, 2008, Special Agent Cortez arrested seven suspects: Hector Medina Leon, Angel Baltierrez Carlos Mendoza Franco, Norberto Rivera Acosta, Caitlan Tucker, Richard Baltierrez and Christian Arias after they delivered approximately 34 pounds of methamphetamine to him in Coachella, CA. Special Agent Cortez was able to convince the suspects to show him all the methamphetamine before he showed them all the buy money. After seeing the 34 pounds of methamphetamine Special Agent Cortez coordinated
a stop of the vehicle containing the methamphetamine, resulting in the seizure of 34 pounds of methamphetamine and 6 arrests.
On December 4, 2008, Special Agent Cortez, while working in an undercover capacity, met with Jesus A. Manzanarez and Dominguillo Morales Gaston. The suspects sold 2.5 pounds of "China White" heroin and 5 pounds of methamphetamine to Special Agent Cortez and were arrested at the scene.
The above investigations demonstrate Special Agent Cortez' professionalism and diversity in narcotic enforcement. He is not one dimensional. He possesses excellent undercover skills allowing narcotic traffickers to gain his trust. He compliments this with his ability to manage informants. He has proven to be a proficient wiretap writer and investigator. He has excelled in Reverse Sting investigations, which have netted $2.7 million, unparalleled in the history of the San Diego BNE office. Special Agent Cortez's investigations for 2008 alone have accounted for the seizure of 15 kilos of cocaine, 39 pounds of methamphetamine, 2.5 pounds of China White Heroin, and the arrests of 28 major narcotic traffickers. Special Agent Cortez carries his effectiveness to the court room. Many of the wiretap and reverse sting investigations were handled by Deputy District Attorney Heather Trapnell out of the Imperial County
District Attorney's Office. Trapnell commented several members of a recent Grand Jury told her Special Agent Cortez was the best witness they had seen provide testimony in any criminal case.
Special Agent Cortez has also shared his expertise in conducting Reverse Sting investigations by providing training to new agents coming out of the DOJ academy as well as being an instructor for DOJ's Advance Training Center.
Exemplary Performance Award
Deputy John Ebert
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
At 1623 hours, September 12, 2008, a catastrophic collision occurred involving a Northbound Metrolink train and a freight train perilously headed Southbound on the same single track. As a result of the horrific head-on collision, the Metrolink engine and all three passenger cars derailed, abruptly ending the life of 26 riders and causing severe life altering injuries to the majority of its passengers. Deputy Ebert was in the third rail car at the time of impact.
Deputy Ebert had worked his regular day shift at the Van Nuys West Courthouse and was riding the Metrolink train home from work, when the incident occurred. He was in uniform, and was the first to radio in to report the incident and to ask for immediate assistance.
After the trains collided head-on, Deputy Ebert was tossed around the interior of the rail car and sustained numerous serious and life threatening injuries including broken ribs, a shattered left wrist, a broken scapula, broken collar bone and a punctured lung. He apparently was unconscious for a short period of time. He awoke and attempted to radio for assistance, however, with his serious injuries, he was not able to manipulate his hand held radio. A passenger came to his aid. Deputy Ebert instructed him to take the microphone and initiate an emergency broadcast regarding the train crash. Deputy Ebert took over
and continued to broadcast pertinent information including the extent of the crash, injuries and location. Although in significant pain, he maintained a calm controlled radio transmission.
Even though Deputy Ebert sustained serious injuries and was in a great deal of pain, he unselfishly tried to help and assure as many passengers as he could in the derailed cars. As a Deputy Sheriff, he demonstrated the leadership, strength and courage under significant hardship, and persevered in his mission to help his fellow man.
Although both arms were physically disabled, Deputy Ebert assisted injured passengers out of the rail cars until he collapsed from his injuries. Deputy Ebert was assisted away from the derailed cars and over to a radio car where he finally became aware of the serious nature of his own injuries. He was ultimately transported to a medical center where he remained in the ICU for over two weeks. Later reports from fellow passengers commented on the heroics displayed by Deputy Ebert during the event, confirming that he gave them hope and direction during those first critical minutes. Later, after a passenger discovered the extent of John's injuries, he personally contacted the Department to express his appreciation for John's heroic actions.
While many responded from all over the county to aid the injured, comments from other riders confirmed that John's leadership during those first critical minutes were the foundation for their subsequent rescue.
The selfless actions of Deputy John Ebert exemplify the highest ideals and qualities of the law enforcement professional. His heroic response to an extremely dangerous situation brought calm, professional leadership to a traumatic situation and may be credited for saving the lives of many of the injured by expediting the emergency response.
Exemplary Performance Award
Corporal-Detective John Franks
Santa Ana Police Department
For several years, members of the Minnie Street Lopers Gang have been trafficking narcotics in the Bishop Manor apartment complex. This deeply rooted gang has plagued the Eastern part of Santa Ana for over 30 years. Their illegal activity has graduated from low level narcotics street transactions to a highly sophisticated method of operation. What was once a small social group has evolved into a violent enterprise, waging war with other gangs throughout the city. In the past, traditional police enforcement efforts proved problematic due to the geographical layout of the Bishop Manor complex. This allowed gang
members to easily identify approaching officers and warn their fellow gang members of the officer's whereabouts. Various other enforcement strategies were employed to combat this problem with limited success.
In January 2008, Detective Franks received information via a confidential informant source regarding the hierarchy of the drug trafficking organization in the Bishop Manor Complex. The Santa Ana Gang Task Force, a joint task force consisting of the Santa Ana Career Criminal Unit, FBI and ATF, decided to proceed with a long term investigation and prosecute the criminals federally in order to have a long lasting impact in the area. Detective Franks was the case agent during the 10 month investigation and did an outstanding job from the onset. Franks managed two informants during the investigation and was responsible for their daily contact and coordination. These informants were utilized to identify the hierarchy of the organization. The evidence collected with the use of these informants enabled the team to obtain a wire tap and monitor the organization's communications.
Additionally, Detective Franks coordinated with agents from the FBI and ATF. Franks handled the logistics and reports on 62 "buys" as well as the majority of the reports on the 33 firearms that were recovered. It was because of Detective Franks' meticulous attention to detail, self motivation, and organizational skills that made this investigation go so well.
As Detective Franks coordinated the daily operations, his teammates took a supportive role in the investigation, documenting the day-to-day surveillance operations, monitoring the wire tap as well as planning and coordinating the take down at the conclusion of the investigation.
The 10 month investigation resulted in the purchase of 33 firearms. Sixty-two undercover narcotics buys yielding 3 pounds of methamphetamine, 12.3 ounces of rock cocaine, 22.5 ounces of tar heroin, 2 ounces of powder cocaine, with an estimated street value of $314,000. Two stolen vehicles were recovered, 16 search warrants were served, and in total 28 arrests were made. Monetary assets seized were approximately $140,000. The SAGTF conducted an undercover buy and recovered a handgun that was used in a homicide and subsequently sold. An informant identified the whereabouts of the second handgun used in the homicide. The SAGTF served a search warrant and recovered the second handgun. This along with additional intelligence that was gained through two informants resulted in the clearance of three homicides.
Detective Franks' work on this case was beyond the normal course of duty. The impact of this case has significantly enhanced the image and reputation of the Santa Ana Police Department and will drastically impact the reduction in crime in the area.
Exemplary Performance Award
Officer Samuel Huizar
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Philip Ruiz
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Steven Trevino
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer William Niemeyer
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Robert Tamate
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Nathan Benson
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Jeffrey Case
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Ryan Rankin
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Nicholas Giordano
Los Angeles Police Department
Officer Sharon Holmes
Los Angeles Police Department
On November 14, 2008, at approximately 2230 hours, a brush fire erupted in Mission Division Area at the Veterans Memorial Park. The fire spread quickly and coupled with the high winds it instantly turned into a "fire storm". This fire, known as the Sayre Fire, was the most devastating fire the City of Los Angeles had seen in recent years. It destroyed an entire community and numerous residences were burned to the ground. It is truly amazing that no lives were lost. If not for the bravery and selfless acts of these officers, many lives could have been lost.
Officers Ruiz and Huizar were the first responders to the Oakridge Mobile Home Park. Observing the fire spreading quickly towards the residential community, they immediately requested additional units for evacuations. Officers Tamate and Benson responded to the additional unit request. At that time, the fire was cresting the hill above the mobile home park. Officers Ruiz, Huizar, Tamate, and Benson immediately began evacuations. Many of the residents were elderly as well as handicapped. They needed to be physically taken out of their residence and transported to safety in the police vehicles. The officers made numerous trips from the mobile home park to Sylmar High School with evacuees. Each time they returned to the community more homes were on fire and it was spreading more rapidly.
Officers Ruiz and Huizar entered a home where a gentleman was bed ridden due to back surgery and unable to evacuate without an ambulance transport. After numerous requests for a Rescue Ambulance by the officers, they were notified that one was en-route. The fire was approaching the home with fury and at an increasing speed. The officers, for their own safety, should have removed the man themselves but they chose to stay. They waited for the ambulance's arrival, as to not permanently injure the man by moving him. Finally, the ambulance arrived and they transported the man to safety just ahead of the flames.
Officers Ruiz and Huizar also evacuated an elderly woman whose three pets were left inside her home. The woman was so distraught when they dropped her off at the high school, she pleaded with the officers to go back and rescue her pets as they were the only thing she had left. They made a promise to her that they would go back and make every attempt to save them. They kept their promise and rescued her pets that certainly would have perished without their brave efforts. In the total devastation of losing her home, belongings, and a lifetime of memories at least she had the comfort of her cherished pets.
Shortly after rescuing the women's pets, Officers Ruiz and Huizar responded to a screaming woman radio call in the mobile home park. As they approached the location of the call, the homes on both sides of the street were fully engulfed in flames. Fire Department personnel were waiving them off. Again, putting their own welfare aside they continued forward to the residence. Upon their arrival, they observed a woman exiting the residence. She ran and jumped into their car and they quickly exited the park. This would be the last evacuation they were able to make, as the fire overtook the park. As Officers Tamate and Benson were evacuating residences in the mobile home park they came upon an elderly gentleman, attempting to open his garage door. He wanted to drive his vehicle to safety. The officers soon realized the garage door did not work and that the vehicle had not been driven in a very long time. They actually determined that the car did not operate at all and that the elderly man suffered from dementia. Officers Tamate and Benson firmly but compassionately told him he was not able to drive the vehicle out and that they would take him to safety. It is without a doubt that if they had not been so thorough with their evacuations and found him in his garage, he would not have survived the fire.
Officers Niemeyer and Trevino were tasked with responding to specific locations throughout the Sylmar area where citizens needed assistance evacuating because of a disability, age, or no mode of transportation. One of the incidents was at 13900 Olive View Dr., where they evacuated a blind man whose house was eventually burned. As they responded to another location, they observed a house on fire and a man standing in the driveway. They stopped and asked the man if he needed assistance and if anyone else was inside.
The man told the officers that his brother was inside and for some unknown reason, maybe panic, the man entered his vehicle and fled the location. With total disregard for their own safety, they made entry into the burning home and located four children inside. They were immediately evacuated. Once they got the children to safety they entered the house again to locate the brother. They eventually found him in the backyard where he was watching his house burn. They escorted him and the children to a safe location.
Officers Giordano, Rankin, Case and Holmes were one of the first responders to the fire in another area. They teamed up and began evacuating residents in the area of Gavina Avenue and Candlewood Street. While evacuating the residents on Candlewood the winds began to blow in excess of 40 mph, causing embers to catch several residential yards on fire. They checked the home to ensure that the occupants had already evacuated. They soon were flagged down by a citizen reporting that an elderly gentleman was refusing to leave his home. His backyard was on fire and his wife was in their vehicle, scared and wanting to leave. Officers Giordano and Rankin responded to the rear yard and observed a man in his 70's holding a hose in one hand and a cane in the other. He was trying to put out a Cypress tree that was fully engulfed. He was concentrating so hard on the tree he did not notice the bushes on fire right in front of him or the "fire tornado" heading right at him, or that his pants had caught on fire. Giordano and Rankin extinguished the fire on the man's pants and told him that he needed to leave immediately. They escorted him to the vehicle where his wife was waiting. Approximately 30 seconds after getting the man out of the backyard, the Fire Department helicopter made a water drop, a direct hit on his backyard. A man in his frail condition certainly would have sustained substantial injuries if he was hit with the water.
Once again, Officers Giordano, Rankin, Case, and Holmes were checking residences when they observed a family sitting in a vehicle preparing to evacuate. A bush, in the front yard of the house they were parked in front of, was hit by an ember and burst into flames. This prompted the female inside the vehicle to exit, run into the front yard and pick up the hose and try to extinguish the bush. As she did this the whole yard caught on fire and she was surrounded by fire. Her husband was screaming at her to leave it and evacuate the area. She refused. Seeing that the husband was not going to leave without his wife who was surrounded by fire and the situation quickly deteriorating, the officers approached the woman and told her to drop the hose and leave. Stubbornly, she refused. Officers grabbed each of her arms and physically escorted her to her grateful husband. Again, as the woman entered her vehicle the Fire Department had another direct hit on the yard with the water drop.
These ten officers are responsible for evacuating hundreds of citizens, while selflessly putting their own lives in jeopardy. Their mere presence and calm demeanor prevented mass hysteria and confusion. Officers Huizar, Ruiz, Tamate, Benson, Trevino, Neimeyer, Case, Giordano, Rankin, and Holmes are the epitome of what a Los Angeles Police Officer stands for. These fine officers are being awarded the Golden Badge Foundation's "Exemplary Performance Award" for their heroism, teamwork, courage, and their dedication for going above and beyond the call of duty, resulting in the saving the lives of hundreds of citizens.
