Police Dept.’s annual event honors 16 heroes with Purple Heart, Medal of Valor and Preservation of Life honors.
On Sept. 25, the LAPD hosted its annual “Above and Beyond” ceremony. This year’s event honored 15 Officers and one canine who demonstrated the highest level of courage and bravery in protecting the City.
The event, hosted by entertainer Howie Mandel, took place at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel downtown.
This year’s event continued the awarding of Purple Heart, Medal of Valor and Preservation of Life honors. Purple Hearts have been distributed only 13 times in the history of the event. This year, four LAPD Officers were honored with the Purple Heart; seven with the Medal of Valor; and four with the Preservation of Life.
The Preservation of Life medal is a recognition of efforts at de-escalation of public safety situations by avoiding the use of deadly force during dangerous encounters. The Department is one of only a handful in the country to bestow such an honor.
The Purple Heart recognizes Officers who have sustained grievous physical injury during a tactical situation and posthumously to the next of kin of those Officers who did not survive their injuries.
The Medal of Valor is awarded to Officers who distinguish themselves by conspicuous bravery or heroism above and beyond the normal demands of police service. To be awarded the Medal of Valor, an Officer shall have preformed an act displaying extreme courage while consciously facing imminent peril.
The medals are awarded by the Board of Police Commissioners and presented by the Chief of Police in the name of the Department at the annual ceremony. The award consists of a medal, ribbon, and citation. The Medal of Valor was first presented in 1925, and the Purple Heart was first awarded in 2009. The Preservation of Life honor was first awarded in 2016.
It is Alive!’s great honor to publish every year the names and stories of those honored.
This Year’s Honorees
Purple Heart
Policeman Phillip Riley
Officer Anthony Diaz
Officer Melissa Salinas
Det. Joseph Gall
Medal of Valor
Officer Kenneth Osmond
Officer Yulian Castrillo
Officer Kevin Hernandez
Officer Cheyne Underwood
Officer Stefan Carutasu
Officer Joshua Rodney
Officer Kenneth Hurley
Preservation of Life
Officer Gian Guenther
Officer Ruben Ovsepyan
Officer Jose Avila
Officer Jerry Coletto
Liberty Award
K9 Aro
Thank You!
The Club is humbled and deeply grateful for the heroism and service provided by those honored at the Above and Beyond ceremony, and all in law enforcement. We honor you, thank you, celebrate you.
The awards ceremony is made possible thanks to the generosity of the Los Angeles Police Foundation. The Club thanks Dana Katz, Executive Director, for her assistance. The LA Police Foundation funds LAPD projects in the following areas: virtual reality training systems; first aid trauma kits; body-worn video cameras; Officer morale and wellbeing; active bystandership for law enforcement training; community safety partnership; DNA backlog; youth programs; and traffic safety.
Purple Heart
Officer Fatally Shot
On Oct. 22, 1971, Policeman Phillip Riley and his partner were working Venice Division (currently known as Pacific Division) when they initiated a traffic stop. The suspect sped away. After a short pursuit, the vehicle stopped, and two men got out and fled in different directions.
Riley cornered one suspect on the rocks of the Marina del Rey breakwater and was shot twice in the chest by the suspect who had grabbed his service revolver while Riley was attempting to handcuff him. Despite the immediate efforts of his partner and responding Officers, Policeman Riley tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect was arrested after a second high-speed pursuit that ended in a shootout in which he was wounded. At the time of the incident, the suspect was an inmate out on a 72-hour pass from the Institution of Men at Chino to look for employment. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life on May 3, 1973. Despite being paroled in 1981, he was sent back to prison for robbery and died of a drug overdose in 1988.
Officer Phillip Riley was 27 years old at the time of his death and had served with the LAPD for three years. He was survived by his wife, parents and brother.
Civil Unrest Injury
On the afternoon of May 30, 2020, Officer Anthony Diaz responded to a call for additional units during the 2020 civil unrest. While sitting in the rear passenger seat of a marked police vehicle, an unidentified assailant hurled a heavy object, believed to be either a cinder block or brick, shattering the rear passenger side window. The object struck Diaz in the head.
He briefly lost consciousness and suffered a cranial fracture that required hospitalization. Subsequent diagnostic imaging revealed intracranial hemorrhaging, indicative of bleeding within the skull. Emergency neurosurgical intervention was performed, including a craniotomy to evacuate the hematoma and alleviate pressure. As part of the procedure, a titanium plate was inserted to repair and support the damaged portion of the skull.
Officer Diaz has since fully recovered and returned to duty.
Knife Wound
In the early evening of Nov. 6, 2022, 77th Street Division Officer Melissa Salinas and her partner responded to a radio call of a suspect experiencing a mental health crisis. When the Officers approached the suspect, he suddenly launched towards Officer Salinas’ face with an eight-inch stainless steel kitchen knife.
Officer Salinas instinctively raised her left hand to deflect the deadly strike. The blade pierced through her palm, continuing through to cause a one inch laceration on the right side of her face and a one-inch laceration to the right side of her neck. The attack caused her to fall backwards, striking her head on the rear windshield of a parked vehicle.
Though seriously wounded, she put a broadcast out for assistance and continued to engage the suspect, as her partner attempted to subdue the armed assailant. When the suspect broke free and fled on foot, Officer Salinas, despite bleeding profusely, pursued him out of concern for her partner’s safety until additional units arrived.
The suspect was eventually taken into custody. After multiple surgeries, extensive physical therapy and permanent nerve damage, Officer Melissa Salinas returned to restricted duty a year after the incident.
DUI Checkpoint
In the early morning hours of Jan. 23, 2023, Officer Joseph Gall was conducting DUI Enforcement riding his black and white police motorcycle. As he approached the intersection, a vehicle crossed the double yellow lines into the motorcycle’s lane. Officer Gall attempted to take evasive maneuvers to avoid the vehicle, but the vehicle collided with his motorcycle. Officer Gall was thrown more than 50 feet from his motorcycle, collided with the roadway, and came to rest underneath a parked car. Due to Gall’s radio breaking from his duty belt, he had a witness call 9-1-1 for assistance. He then placed his Help Call with the witness’ phone, awaited responding Officers and Paramedics, and directed Officers to the suspected drunk driver. The suspect was booked for felony DUI.
Officer Gall sustained significant injuries, which included his fibula and tibia shattering into multiple pieces, requiring several surgeries and multiple hospitalizations. He received 12 screws and a metal plate that will permanently remain in his leg.
Officer Joseph Gall has since returned to full duty and has been promoted to Detective I.
Medal of Valor
On Sept. 20, 1980, Central Traffic Division Officers Kenneth Osmond and Henry Lane were assigned as Motor Officers working a DUI Task Force in Rampart Division when they heard a radio broadcast reporting the theft of a taxicab. Approximately one hour later, the Officers observed the stolen cab drive by their location at a high rate of speed. They immediately initiated a pursuit of the stolen cab. Shortly after the pursuit started, the suspect pulled over and parked. The Officers parked their motorcycles behind the cab and approached the suspect, who remained seated in the cab. The suspect waited until Officer Osmond was at the passenger door then rapidly sped away.
The Officers ran back to their motorcycles and re engaged the pursuit. The suspect attempted to evade them but lost control of his cab and crashed into several parked vehicles, leaving the cab inoperative.
The suspect fled on foot while the Officers followed him on their motorcycles. He ran down an alley and into a park ing structure, which was blocked with a waist-high chain. The suspect suddenly stopped, turned around, and pulled out a six-inch revolver from his waistband. He pointed the revolver at Officer Lane, and Officer Lane jumped off his motorcycle as it crashed into the suspect and knocked him over the chain.
Officer Lane immediately fired one shot at the suspect, which missed. They continued to pursue the suspect on foot, with Officer Lane running in front of Officer Osmond. Officer Lane discharged several more gunshots towards the suspect, as he continued to run from them.
The suspect disappeared, lying in wait in a recessed entrance to a closed store. When Officer Lane lost sight of the suspect, he stopped momentarily to reload his revolver, as Officer Osmond ran past him. The suspect stepped away from the door’s entrance and shot at Officer Osmond, striking him three times. Two rounds struck Officer Osmond’s body armor, and one struck his belt buckle, ricocheting and grazing his stomach area.
The impact of the bullets caused Officer Osmond to fall backwards; however, Officer Osmond was able to discharge three rounds from his own revolver at the suspect before falling to the ground. Officer Osmond’s shots missed the suspect, so Officer Lane reached out and grabbed the barrel of the suspect’s revolver and struck the suspect with the gun.
Officer Lane and the suspect both fell to the ground in a struggle for the gun. The suspect was able to fire one additional round toward Officer Lane, missing him. Officer Lane gained control of the suspect’s gun, turned the barrel towards the suspect’s neck and shoulder, and discharged one additional round from the suspect’s gun, striking the suspect in his neck.
The rounds that hit Officer Osmond’s body armor and belt buckle severely bruised him; however, he did not require hospitalization. Officer Lane believes Officer Osmond’s selfless actions saved his life. If Officer Osmond had not run past Officer Lane and immediately engaged the suspect, Officer Lane would have been defenseless in a confrontation with an armed and violent suspect.
It was later learned that the suspect had previously served five years in prison for murder. He served only four years in prison for shooting at Officers Kenneth Osmond and Henry Lane. The suspect was later convicted of additional crimes, including murder, and was sentenced to death in 1989. He currently remains on death row.
Car Crash Victim Rescue
In the dark, early morning hours of Feb. 20, 2024, West Valley Officers Yulian Castrillo and Cheyne Underwood observed a four-door sedan driving with the headlights off. Officer Underwood attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, the driver failed to yield, accelerated, and fled. Officer Underwood made the decision not to pursue the vehicle due to the inclement weather coupled with the nature of the violation.
The Officers broadcasted the information over their radio and continued in the same direction as the fleeing vehicle when they saw it had crashed into a tri-light signal pole at an intersection. There was extensive damage to the vehicle’s front end and heavy smoke billowing from the engine compartment. The windows were still up, with no visibility inside, as well as no indication anyone had exited or was attempting to exit the vehicle.
The Officers exited their vehicle and approached the disabled vehicle to render aid. Officer Underwood went to the driver’s door but was unable to open it and could not see inside because of the heavy window tint and smoke that was increasing in intensity. He CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOUNDDE 1 1 78 CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOUNDDE 1 1 78 CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOUNDDE 1 1 78 CITY OF LOS ANGELES FOUNDDE 1 1 78 AWARDS 2025 asked the driver if she could get out, but there was no response. Both Officers went to the vehicle’s passenger-side where the window was slightly open but not enough to see inside or extract the passenger. The passenger advised she could not get out.
The Officers were unable to clearly see inside of the passenger-side front window since the side curtain airbag had deployed. Officer Underwood used his knife to deflate the airbag, then used his baton to break out the rear passenger side window while urging the occupants to get out. With the window now broken, he reached inside to open the rear door but couldn’t. The Officers attempted to force entry and tried to illuminate the interior of the car, but all windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible to see inside.
Officer Underwood successfully opened the front passenger door, but the occupant had a serious leg injury and was unable to get out. He grabbed her by the right shoulder and pulled her out of the car, dragging her by the arm away from the burning vehicle. Officer Castrillo continued dragging the passenger along the sidewalk away from the vehicle fire, as Officer Underwood ran back to the passenger side, desperately trying to remove the driver. Due to the flames and smoke, he was unable to see any other occupants in the vehicle.
West Valley Officer Kevin Hernandez and his partner arrived as the passenger was being pulled from the vehicle. They ran toward the burning vehicle and tried to smash the driver-side window; despite repeated strikes with the baton, they were unable to break it. Officer Hernandez used his pocketknife that was equipped with a window punch to shatter a small circular hole in the driver’s side window. With a small hole now in the window, his partner took over and used his baton to shatter the entire window. They were able to pull the driver from the burning vehicle and drag her to safety.
Once everyone was safely away from the vehicle, the Officers repeatedly asked the two rescued occupants if anyone else was inside, and they indicated “no.” There were no obvious cries for help from inside the vehicle, and it was believed there were only two occupants. Once out of harm’s way, the rescued passenger stated there was a third person inside.
Despite the vehicle being fully engulfed in flames and not knowing if it would explode, the Officers made the decision to run toward the vehicle and try to rescue the additional occupant. The Officers used their batons to try and break the windows and used fire extinguishers to attempt to extinguish the flames, but they were unable to put out the fire. Soon after, the LAFD arrived, extinguished the flames, and it was confirmed the vehicle contained a third occupant who was deceased and positioned on the rear floorboard.
Surviving 100 Rounds
On the evening of July 2, 2024, Southeast Division Officers Stefan Carutasu and Joshua Rodney were conducting a routine traffic stop when they were suddenly attacked by a suspect armed with a fully automatic assault weapon. More than 100 rounds were fired at them and their marked patrol vehicle.
Both Officers were injured during the initial onslaught of gunfire. Officer Rodney sustained two graze wounds to the head, while Officer Carutasu suffered multiple glass fragment injuries to the face. Despite the life-threatening circumstances and the serious injuries, once the initial volley of gunfire subsided, Officer Rodney exited the vehicle and returned fire to protect himself and his wounded partner.
Recognizing the continuing threat to the public, the Officers re-entered their heavily damaged vehicle and pursued the suspect. They continued the chase until their patrol vehicle became inoperable due to significant engine damage caused by multiple bullet impacts.
Home Explosion
On the morning of Oct. 7, 2024, Training Division Officer Kenneth Hurley was at home and off-duty when he heard a deafening explosion erupt from his neighbor’s property, shaking the walls of his own residence.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, he immediately ran outside and discovered his neighbor’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) engulfed in flames and reduced to rubble. Without regard for his own safety, Officer Hurley climbed a wall and balanced himself atop it to scan the wreckage for survivors. Through smoke and fire, he spotted a man buried in debris, disoriented and struggling to move. Recognizing him as his neighbor, he called out, reassured him, and quickly determined no one else was trapped inside.
With flames advancing and danger mounting, Officer Hurley acted decisively, pulling his injured neighbor from the wreckage to safety. He remained by his side, offering comfort and support as the man, suffering from severe second- and third-degree burns, awaited transport to the hospital.
Preservation of Life
Hospital Threat
On the afternoon of June 29, 2023, Topanga Division Officers Gian Guenther and Ruben Ovsepyan were inside the emergency room of Northridge Hospital waiting for their arrestee to receive medical attention. Hospital staff approached the Officers and indicated that a subject who was seated in a bed next to them claimed to be armed with a gun. The subject had been taken to the facility due to a mental health issue.
Officer Guenther approached the subject and asked him if he was armed. The subject stated that he did have a gun on him while holding his hands behind his back. The Officers immediately drew their handguns and put out a “Help” call. They continued speaking with the subject who refused to show the Officers his hands. While waiting for additional resources to arrive, emergency room staff began moving nearby patients out of harm’s way.
Officer Guenther continued his attempts to build a rapport with the subject. The subject, still non-compliant, began walking toward the Officers with his hands concealed behind his back. Both Officers redeployed to a position of advantage while continuously making efforts to gain the subject’s compliance, as he repositioned himself to a corner of the treatment area.
After several minutes of communication with the subject, he extended his right hand, positioning his index finger forward with his thumb raised, mimicking a handgun, and pointed it at the Officers. The Officers immediately recognized that the subject was unarmed and approached him. As the Officers were taking the subject into custody, he resisted and tried to grab one of the arresting Officer’s handguns from his holster. The Officers were able to overcome the subject’s resistance and take him into custody.
It was determined that the suspect was suffering from a psychiatric emergency and was seeking ways to end his life.
Domestic Stabbing
On the morning of June 5, 2024, Topanga Division Officers Jose Avila and Jerry Coletto responded to a radio call reporting an “Assault with a Deadly Weapon.” Upon arrival, a blood-covered female exited the residence holding a knife and stated that her son had stabbed his father. The Officers ordered her to drop the knife and move to safety.
Inside, Officers saw fresh blood across the floors and walls. In the foyer, they located the suspect gripping a large knife in a downward stabbing position while holding his injured father as a shield. The father was covered in blood and unable to escape. Officer Avila positioned himself behind a pillar with his firearm, while Officer Coletto took an elevated position on the stairwell with a beanbag shotgun. Both Officers pleaded with the suspect to release his father for medical care, but he ignored commands, rambling incoherently.
Additional Officers formed an arrest team outside. After repeated refusals, Officer Coletto discharged two beanbag rounds, one striking the suspect in the beltline, the other hitting the knife, breaking most of the blade from the handle. Officer Avila quickly pulled the victim away as Officers rushed in. The blood-covered suspect continued resisting. Officers secured his right hand, which still clutched the broken knife, and repeatedly ordered him to drop it. He refused, requiring taser activations. Officer Coletto pried the knife away, and the suspect was hand cuffed.
Once the scene was secure, Officer Avila and another Officer escorted the suspect outside for medical treatment. The father, suffering multiple stab wounds, was carried to waiting paramedics.
It was later discovered that the female had also been stabbed in the head. In defense of herself and her husband, she had used a knife to stab her son, the suspect. Despite her injuries, she was able to flee and alert Officers, ultimately preventing further harm.
Probation Search
On June 15, 2017, Metropolitan Division Officers assigned to crime suppression conducted a probation search at a residence. During their investigation, a 34-year old male began firing at Officers from inside the residence.
An Officer-Involved Shooting (OIS) occurred, and the suspect fled into the sur rounding neighborhood. A perimeter was established, and Metropolitan Division K9 units and Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) personnel responded to the incident to apprehend the extremely violent and dangerous suspect.
Metropolitan Division assets formulated a plan to find the suspect and take him into custody. With an airship orbiting overhead, they deployed K9 Aro to search the rear yard of the location. As soon as K9 Aro entered the yard, the suspect immediately began shooting at the dog, striking him in his rear leg. K9 Aro’s handler recalled him, and when the dog did not return, it was assumed he had been shot and killed. Thankfully, K9 Aro subsequently returned to his handler; however, K9 Aro’s injury was not visible due to the location of the injury.
The suspect fled to an adjacent yard where SWAT and K9 personnel, including K9 Aro, continued to carefully search the property. While looking into the laundry room, the suspect suddenly emerged and began shooting at the search team members. The suspect eventually surrendered and was taken into custody.
The bullet that struck the dog was a through-and-through shot. K9 Aro made a complete recovery and returned to duty. He retired in 2020 and subsequently passed away from age related issues.