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San Francisco Police honor 29 recipients with medals of valor and commendations
Summary
The San Francisco Police Department held a February awards ceremony recognizing 29 recipients for incidents ranging from life‑saving rescues to armed confrontations; multiple officers received Bronze and Silver Medals of Valor, one officer received a Purple Heart and the department’s Gold Medal of Valor was presented.
The San Francisco Police Department recognized 29 recipients at a February awards ceremony that highlighted life‑saving interventions, tactical arrests and several incidents involving armed suspects.
Chief George Gascon thanked officers and their families for their service, saying the department is “full of traditions, courage, commitment” and urging the public to recognize the officers’ sacrifices. Police Commission President Joe Marshall said the ceremony’s taped vignettes let the public see “the moments in time that the officers had to make those split second decisions.”
Presenters described a series of incidents that led to medals: Captain John Loftus recounted a December 2008 Bayview pursuit in which Officer Eric Whitney and colleagues pursued and arrested a suspect who had fired multiple rounds; Whitney received a Bronze Medal of Valor and two assisting officers received commendations.
Captain Dennis O’Leary presented Bronze Medals of Valor to Inspector John Keane and Officer David Nistari for a July 2008 undercover narcotics operation in the Tenderloin in which a suspect produced a knife and was subdued without deadly force. Captain Steve Tacchini described an August 2008 response to a psychiatric outpatient facility in which Officer Catherine Holder and Sergeant Kim Reynolds fired on an attacking patient after nonlethal force failed; both received Bronze Medals of Valor.
Lieutenant Tim Obizier presented a Bronze Medal of Valor to Officer Jason Johnson for a March 2009 intervention that stopped a person from falling five stories and enabled the subject to receive mental‑health treatment. Obizier also presented a Silver Medal of Valor to Officer Joshua Olsen for a January 2008 encounter in which Olsen shot a subject who continued to advance with a large knife.
Captain John Goldberg named Officers Greg Buhaje, Eric Chang and Sergeant Matt O’Leary for actions during a January 2007 specialist‑unit response in Bayview and Sunnydale; Chang and Buhaje fired on a suspect in a crowded restaurant, and those officers were awarded Silver Medals of Valor. Captain Al Pardini detailed a prolonged Ingleside tactical operation in June 2004 against Gustavus Ruggley that involved multiple returns of fire; several members received various medals, Officer Mike Lewis was awarded the department’s Purple Heart for injuries sustained, and Lieutenant John Visorti received the Gold Medal of Valor, the department’s highest honor.
Organizers said awards presented included bronze, silver and gold medals and a Purple Heart; presenters called recipients to the stage in order by medal grade. The ceremony closed with thanks to families, an acknowledgement of UCSF for the venue and a note that refreshments and photo opportunities with Chief Gascon were available after the event.
The department listed 29 recipients for the night’s awards; presenters supplied incident summaries and departmental commendations but no formal votes or policy actions were recorded at the ceremony.
