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Police commission upgrades two officers to Gold Medal of Valor after review of Irving Street shooting
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission voted to upgrade two officers' awards to the department's Gold Medal of Valor after reviewing a Feb. 17 shooting on Irving Street in which officers intervened amid a crowded Lunar New Year celebration and took the suspect into custody without firing. The commission also flagged the awards committee's secret-ballot process for review.
The San Francisco Police Commission on Oct. 20 voted to award the Gold Medal of Valor to Lieutenant Henry Perra and Sergeant Russell Gordon, praising their actions during a Feb. 17 shooting on the 1800 block of Irving Street.
Commissioners said the two veteran officers confronted an armed suspect in a crowded commercial corridor during Lunar New Year celebrations and took the suspect into custody without firing a shot. "They restrained themselves and never fire, took the suspect in custody without firing a shot," Chief George Gascon said in the meeting, describing the officers' decision to close distance and focus the shooter's attention away from pedestrians.
Commissioner Mizuko had asked the commission to review the awards committee's recommendation after the committee had initially recommended a lower-level award. "I was shocked," Mizuko said during debate. "It's clearly a gold medal of valor in my eyes." Commissioner Hammer moved to amend the committee recommendation and award the gold medal; the motion carried without objection.
Assistant Chief Denise Schmidt's memo to the commission, read aloud at the meeting, described the incident: officers observed a heated argument at Kevin's Noodle House, moved to the scene, and confronted a suspect who fired multiple shots and fatally wounded another person; the officers, with no available cover, closed on the shooter, issued orders and secured the suspect while attempting life-saving measures on the victim.
The panel also discussed the committee's selection process. Several commissioners criticized the use of a secret-ballot, "marble" system in the awards committee and urged procedural change so that rationale for award levels is clearer to the wider department and to nominees. Ray Hart of San Francisco Open Government warned that suggesting the committee's outcome was "politics" could undercut confidence in other awards if not handled carefully.
The commission directed staff to schedule a public awards presentation (likely in December) and asked the chief to review the awards procedure. No formal roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript; the chair announced the action carried "without objection."
