Medal of Valor (MOV) honorees at the POVAC ceremony and supporters included (l-r) Detective Randy Haumann, nominated as Investigator of the Year, MOV recipients Officer Frank Huerta, Reserve Officers Chad Peplinski and Damien Shiloh, former SPPD Dispatcher Jessica Gomez, MOV recipient Officer Hector Ramirez, Commander Ish Cordero, MOV recipient Sgt. Scott Varner and Police Chief Steve McLean.

SPPD Officers honored at Police Officers
of VC Medal of Valor ceremony

October 30, 2015
Santa Paula News

Law enforcement turned out in force when the finest crime-fighters were honored by the Peace Officers Association of Ventura County (POVAC) including six Santa Paula Officers. A SPPD Detective was nominated for Investigator of the Year and a Santa Paula resident and Lake Piru employee, honored for a daring rescue.

The POAVC Medal of Valor 40th Annual Awards Ceremony was held October 10 at the Sun Air Hangar at the Camarillo Airport, where about 500 people gathered amid a backdrop of patrol cars and other crime-fighting equipment. 

Among those honored were Detective Walter Harper who received a Medal of Merit and Officer Hector Ramirez, Sgt. Scott Varner, Officer Frank Huerta and Reserve Officers Damien Shilo and Chad Peplinski, lauded with Medals of Valor.

Kurt White, a United Water Conservation District Park Services Officer was honored with a Citizen Medal of Merit.

Harper, said his wife Carmen, was inspired to become an officer when he accompanied her brother, a Ventura County Sheriff, on a ride-along.

And when he became an officer Harper said, “I told my wife I’d be home at the end of every shift…”

Master of Ceremonies and POVAC Vice President Randy Watkins of the Ventura Count Sheriff’s Office welcomed the crowd introducing each police chief in Ventura County including Santa Paula Chief Steve McLean. District Attorney Greg Totten was also in attendance as well as other elected officials including Santa Paula Mayor John Procter, Vice Mayor Martin Hernandez and City Councilwomen Jenny Crosswhite and Ginger Gherardi, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean and 44th District Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin.

Watkins noted that POVAC, comprised of each law enforcement agency in the county, recognizes their longtime partnerships in crime-fighting.

“We come together to recognize heroes and investigators…we will relive gun battles, saving a baby from a burning car, rescue by boat, a face-off at the county fair,” and other incidents that officers and citizens were being lauded for.

“Our heroes did not encourage the act but rather they ran towards danger…”   

A special presentation In Memoriam for Distinguished Service was presented to the family of late VCSO Deputy Yevhen “Eugene” Kostiuchenko, struck and killed last year while on duty by a suspected drunk driver.  

The citations were read by Ventura County Superior Court Commissioner William B. Redmond, who noted, “All of tonight’s recipients made a huge difference,” through the specific act they were being honored for. 

“But each here tonight go out on patrol and make a difference every single day and then go home to their family — sometimes sore, sometimes bloody — and then they go out the next day and do it again.”

Such was the case with Harper who close to midnight on June 29, 2012 was working patrol with a Reserve Officer when he attempted to stop a pedestrian on East Harvard Boulevard at about Olive Street.

The suspect produced a handgun and fired, the Reserve “dove out of sight” said Redmond, and Harper returned fire, striking the suspect who fled.

By following the blood trail and the clothing discarded by the suspect police were able to locate him hiding a few blocks away on Santa Ana Street.

“Due to Detective Harper’s quick and appropriate action he was able to save his own life as well as the life of his partner, an act of heroism,” that Redmond said was “beyond what was expected.” 

Harper received the Medal of Merit from Police Chief McLean.

Ramirez, Peplinski, Huerta, Shiloh and Varner were involved in an incident on July 28, 2012.

Ramirez and Peplinski responded to a family disturbance on New Street about 7:45 p.m., the second visit by police to the residence that day for a report that a documented gang member had struck a male relative with a handgun.

Shortly after the two and backup arrived on scene the suspect fired on them “multiple times,” striking Peplinski in the mid-section.

As the suspect retreated to the garage, which opened to the backyard, “The others continued in,” said Redmond. 

A call of 999, “Officer Down” was sent to Dispatch where only one Dispatcher was on duty.

Ramirez had run to a business that abutted the residence’s back wall and when the suspect attempted to jump over he saw Ramirez, who demanded that he drop his weapon, an order that was refused. The suspect dropped back into the yard and when Ramirez jumped onto stacked tires to look over the wall he saw that other officers were entering the yard and the suspect was readying to fire at them and himself.

Ramirez fired, hitting the suspect and ending the incident without injury to others.

Said Redmond, “It was extraordinary bravery” on the part of all the officers who responded to the call and risked their own lives to save others.

Peplinski, noted Redmond, had been hit on his service belt buckle minimizing injury. 

“He was saved from serious injury,” and was eager to return to duty.

Each SPPD Officer received the Medal of Valor from McLean.

Detective Randy Haumann was nominated as Investigator of the Year for his efforts to help a witness to a 2014 major crime, one of his first homicides. 

A suspect was identified and taken into custody early on but a key witness needed counseling, substance abuse treatment and entry with family into the Witness Protection Program.

Haumann handled it all helping the witness and her family compassionately while completing the case.

“The Santa Paula community should take great pride in the actions of their officers and their commitment to the safety of its citizens,” said McLean. “I’m proud of them…the entire department does its best in spite of limited resources.”

Named Investigator of the Year was VCSO Senior Deputy Victor Medina who headed up the investigation that led to the 44 arrests of those involved in the Mexican Mafia, among other cases.

Santa Paula resident Kurt White, UWCD Park Services Lead Officer at Lake Piru, helped save 15 people when they overloaded a 16-foot long boat — meant to carry eight people — on June 15, 2014.

White noticed something amiss and took to the harbor with Marc Zavala, a concessionaire at the lake and the two pulled the boaters — including 7 children and two infants — from the water and onto White’s boat.

“The quick and competent action,” of White and Zavala earned each a Citizens Medal of Merit for their life-saving response.

Detective Walter Harper (left) received the Medal of Merit and plaque from Santa Paula Police Chief Steve McLean at the recent Peace Officers Association of Ventura County (POVAC) Medal of Valor Awards ceremony.





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