[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 12, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E192-E193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING MEDAL OF VALOR RECIPIENTS: SERGEANT JOE PEDROZA, DEPUTY 
   MATTHEW LUTHER, DEPUTY OSCAR LEON, DEPUTY PHILLIP FARLEY, OFFICER 
             TERESA NAUGLE-DUDEK AND OFFICER ERNIE SANCHEZ

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 11, 2003

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to honor the courageous 
efforts of the men and women in law enforcement. These individuals risk 
their lives each day in fighting crime and keeping our communities 
safe. Tonight, I honor four brave members of the Monterey County 
Sheriff's Department and two members of the Salinas Police Department 
that have been awarded a Medal of Valor by the Monterey County Peace 
Officer's Association for their dedicated service to the County of 
Monterey.
  On December 29, 2001, Monterey County Sheriff's Deputies responded to 
a call about a suspicious vehicle that may have been involved in the 
sale of stolen property. Deputy Matthew Luther determined the vehicle 
was stolen and also realized that it was parked at a residence where 
known felons took refuge.
  Additional units arrived and surrounded the location: Deputy Luther 
and Deputy Phillip Farley covered the rear of the home, while Deputy 
Oscar Leon covered the front. Sergeant Joe Pedroza took the exterior 
perimeter.
  A suspect's desperate efforts to flee were thwarted by Deputy Farley. 
Trying another exit, the suspect encountered Deputy Leon and began 
shooting. Deputy Leon returned fire at almost point blank range. 
Shortly thereafter, the suspect attempted to escape by jumping off the 
front porch of the residence and tried to climb into a tree above 
Deputy Luther. The suspect, still in possession of his handgun was 
disabled by Deputy Luther's return fire. After securing the suspect, 
two additional co-conspirators were located inside the house and taken 
into custody.
  Throughout this quick encounter, each deputy employed his skills, 
training, and instincts--all of which culminated in the securing of the 
suspect and the crime scene. The encounter was not over after the 
suspect was shot and disabled. All the deputies involved maintained 
their focus, worked in unison and continued to react to each threat as 
it arose. The above Sheriff's Deputies were confronted with a life and 
death situation in which, a murder suspect attempted to gain his 
freedom by shooting his gun at them. In doing so, they were able to 
apprehend the suspect without injuries to the deputies involved.
  Sergeant Joe Pedroza, Deputy Matthew Luther, Deputy Oscar Leon, and 
Deputy Phillip Farley were awarded this Medal of Valor on April 17, 
2002.
  On the evening of January 15, 2002, the Salinas Fire Department and 
the Salinas Police Department were dispatched to a structure fire at 
the Acosta Plaza apartment complex.
  Officer Ernie Sanchez and Officer Teresa Naugle-Dudek arrived before 
any fire units and determined that the occupants of apartment #2, which 
was fully engulfed, were safe and accounted for. In speaking with the 
residents, the two officers learned that the occupants of apartment #1 
had not been seen outside.
  When Officer Sanchez knocked on the door and got no response, he 
forced the locked door. When Officer Sanchez and Officer Naugle-Dudek 
entered the premises, they found the apartment full of thick, dark 
smoke. Without breathing apparatus or concern for their personal 
safety, they located three individuals asleep in an upstairs bedroom. 
Officer Sanchez and Officer Naugle-Dudek evacuated the residents and 
had the persons evaluated by medical personnel at the scene.
  Officer Sanchez kept the family with him until he could make 
arrangements with relatives for their lodging. Officer Naugle-Dudek 
assisted the other displaced residents in securing temporary housing in 
the complex, until their units could be declared structurally safe to 
inhabit.
  There is little doubt that both their quick actions averted a 
potentially deadly situation.

[[Page E193]]

These citizens, fast asleep, could have been overcome by smoke 
inhalation and perished in their home. Officer Sanchez and Officer 
Naugle-Dudek displayed heroism while disregarding their own personal 
safety during the structure fire.
  Officer Teresa Naugle-Dudek and Officer Ernie Sanchez were awarded 
this Medal of Valor on April 17, 2002.
  Undaunted, all of these men and women acted with great courage, in 
concert with one another and with the highest degree of 
professionalism. And it is their undying commitment to public safety 
and law enforcement that is so essential to the health of our 
communities. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I congratulate 
these individuals on their receipt of this tremendous honor.

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