Two Moorpark California Highway Patrol officers were awarded the Governor’s State Employee Silver Medal of Valor on June 12 for saving a woman from jumping from a highway overpass.
On Dec. 17, 2024, Officer Alex Salazar and now retired Sgt. Brian DeNike responded to a woman threatening to jump from an overpass on Highway 118 in Simi Valley, according to a CHP news release.
While DeNike spoke with the woman, she climbed over the railing and hung from the ledge by her hands. Both officers proceeded to grab the woman by her arms and lift her to safety, agency officials said.
DeNike and Salazar were honored earlier this month in Sacramento alongside five other CHP officers from across the state.
“These officers exemplify the very best of the California Highway Patrol. The actions recognized today reflect extraordinary courage and commitment to public safety,” California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin said in a news release.
CHP colleague Sgt. Noah Watkins said in an interview that he was not surprised Salazar received recognition for his valor. He previously pulled someone out of a burning car.
The Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Awards is the highest honor California public servants can be awarded, with over 800 medals being awarded since 1959.
Overpasses above the 118 have seen multiple suicides, with at least 14 deaths since 1993 occuring at one overpass in Moorpark. Construction of a safety net along the Moorpark overpass began in November 2025 and is expected to be completed this year.
If you’re feeling despondent, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, for both English and Spanish speakers, can be reached by calling 988 or visiting online https://988lifeline.org.
Levi Kauffman is an intern for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at lkauffman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Two Moorpark CHP officers honored for ‘extraordinary acts of heroism’
Reporting by Levi Kauffman, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Levi Kauffman, Ventura County Star | USA TODAY Network
