Medal Of Valor Awarded To 3 Riverside County CHP Officers

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Three California Highway Patrol officers were awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in Washington D.C. on Monday for halting a deadly gun battle near Interstate 215 nearly three years ago.

President Joe Biden, officials with the U.S. Department of Justice, and others congratulated CHP Officers Ryan Smith, Vince Mendoza and retired CHP Officer Robert Paul III for earning the highest honor for a public safety officer.

They were among the 2019-2020 class of officers who exhibited exceptional courage in the line of duty.

Biden recalled the fatal Aug. 12, 2019, incident that began with a routine traffic stop in the area of Box Springs Boulevard and Eastridge Avenue, near I-215, in Riverside, and ended with a 12-minute-long shootout that claimed the life of 34-year-old CHP Officer Andre Maurice Moye Jr.

"(CHP Officers Paul, Smith and Mendoza) went to incredible lengths to protect each other, even as Officer Smith and Officer Paul each sustained multiple gunshot wounds to their legs," Biden said in a released statement. "Officer Mendoza engaged the suspect so his wounded colleagues could evacuate safely — all three of them demonstrating bravery and composure while enduring a deadly rampage."

The Fatal Shootout

At approximately 5:30 p.m. that August day, Moye pulled over a GMC pickup truck for an unknown violation when the suspect pulled a rifle and opened fire on the officer and killed him, according to CHP Assistant Chief Scott Parker.

Paul was assisting Moye with the traffic stop and radioed, "officer down." Paul was shot in both of his legs by the suspect who was later identified as 49-year-old Beaumont resident Aaron Luther.

Paul managed to hold Luther at bay as Smith arrived at the scene. Smith, who was also shot at by the suspect, exited his patrol car and returned fire. He then dragged the wounded Paul over 100 feet to safety. Mendoza was next to arrive and helped draw fire away from Smith and Paul.

Riverside Police Department officers and Riverside County sheriff's deputies also responded to the firefight.

Luther, a convicted felon, was eventually shot and killed at the scene.

Moye was honored by hundreds of his colleagues during an emotional Aug. 20, 2019, public memorial service at Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside.

Related:2 RivCo CHP Officers Honored After Gunfight With Beaumont Man

CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray commended the three surviving officers for their "heroism."

“The actions of these men that day were noble, courageous, and crucial to getting another officer to safety,” Ray said. “I am incredibly proud of these officers for their teamwork and the numerous acts of bravery, which took place during this horrific incident.

"While we tragically lost one of our own that day, countless other lives were saved because of their heroism," Ray continued.

Sworn to serve and protect the people of California, CHP officers vow to “assist those in peril or distress, and, if necessary, lay down their [my] life rather than swerve from the path of duty.”