Martinez Police Officers Honored

From the Martinez Police Department

On Tuesday, the Martinez Police Department had an awards ceremony in the City Council chambers. Friends, family and co-workers were on hand to honor eight officers who received department awards.

Corporal Michael Estanol and Officer Matthew Allendorph received the department Life Saving Award for doing CPR and using an AED to revive a heart attack victim in June.

Officer William A. Kruta also received the Life Saving Award for his actions in an apartment complex fire in May. He was the first officer to arrive on scene and entered a building that was fully engulfed in flames to check for residents. He notified several residents on the first, second and third floors to evacuate the building. Officer Kruta went to the source of the fire on the third floor and notified the adjacent neighbors who were unaware they were in grave danger.

In that same apartment complex fire, Lt. Aaron Roth, Officer Kevin Busciglio, Officer Craig Schnabel and Detective Nick Voyvodich arrived on scene and entered the burning and smoky building to check for and evacuate residents.    Not only did these officers alert and warn some of the residents, along with Officer Kruta, they evacuated an elderly female on the first floor, who was still in bed and unaware there was a fire. Their collective and individual actions resulted in the officers being awarded a Chief’s Commendation.

Last, under a special provision of the department policy that allows the recognition of past deserving acts that had gone unrecognized, Officer Dirk Miller received the Life Saving Award for his actions in a 2001 shooting that saved the life of a Martinez resident who was being attacked with a metal pipe.