Medal for Heroism
Detective John Rodriguez
Santa Ana Police Department
Detective Gilbert Hernandez
Santa Ana Police Department
Detective Jason Viramontes
Santa Ana Police Department
When Long Beach officers Yap and Wade (see appropriate page) were ambushed in their police unit on December 22, 2006, it goes without saying, hunting season officially opened. Law enforcement everywhere began work immediately to find the culprit responsible for shooting them.
On December 27, 2006, five days after the shooting, undercover Long Beach officers located the suspect at a strip mall in Santa Ana, California. The Long Beach officers requested assistance from the Santa Ana Police Department to stop and apprehend the suspect. Santa Ana P.D. SWAT Officers John Rodriguez, Jason Viramontes and Gilbert Hernandez responded to Long Beach’s request and drove to the mall where the suspect was last seen.
The three officers were in a single unmarked police car as they entered the parking lot. Upon entering the parking lot, they came under heavy gunfire. As bullets sprayed their way, Officers Rodriguez and Hernandez exited their car and took cover behind a nearby parked van. The suspect tracked Rodriguez and Hernandez, firing into the van, narrowly missing them and showering them with broken glass. Fearlessly and with risk to his own life, Officer Hernandez took up a position behind the van’s front passenger-side wheel well and immediately engaged the suspect in a gun battle from a distance of 7-10 yards. As Officer Hernandez held his position, several of the suspect’s rounds struck the van just inches from his head.
At the same time, Officer Viramontes took a position behind the police unit and began firing at the suspect. The suspect immediately diverted his attention to Officer Viramontes and began shooting at him. Officer Viramontes’ gunfire struck the suspect, forcing him to the ground. The suspect, determined to kill one or all of the officers, continued to aggressively fire at the officers while on his hands and knees. Realizing the suspect was using the van as cover, Officer Rodriguez placed himself in the line of fire and took up position underneath the van, where he fired directly into the suspect’s upper torso before the suspect could react to his presence. Officers Hernandez and Viramontes, with undaunted courage, came out of cover and began shooting the suspect before he could shoot back at Rodriguez. The suspect fell to the ground and died from the gunshot wounds, ending the violent confrontation.
The suspect fired 13 rounds at the officers from a distance of no more than 10 yards. The gun battle was fierce, brutal and intense. The officers overcame a violent and determined suspect who had ambushed them through the application of tactics, self-confidence and courage under fire. At the time of his death, the suspect had two additional fully loaded magazines in his possession. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives, above and beyond the call of duty, the Golden Badge Foundation is honored to present Detectives John Rodriguez, Gilbert Hernandez and Jason Viramontes with the Medal for Heroism
