CHP Officer Awarded Medal of Valor For Saving Life of Dangling Man

Photos: Officer Peters, wearing the California Medal of Valor awarded Tuesday; California Medal of Valor; Awards ceremony. All photos credit: CHP
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OAKLAND, CA - A CHP officer who works out of the Oakland office was awarded the California Medal of Valor Tuesday for saving the life of a suicidal man last year. Officer Peters grabbed the man as he went over the railing of the freeway transition ramp from I-580 westbound to I-980 westbound in Oakland on Feb. 21, 2015.

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“Officer Peters was able to grab a portion of the man’s jacket and wrist and held onto him as he dangled over 70 feet above SR-24,” the CHP said last year in the aftermath of the incident. “The man continued to fight in an attempt to break free from Officer Peters’ grip as he hung.”

Officer Peters held onto the man until reinforcements arrived. Together, they pulled him to safety.

On Tuesday, the CHP said, “The medal of valor is the highest honor awarded to California's public servants, and we are proud to say that Officer Peters is now one of the few people to ever receive that honor!”

The California Medal of Valor is awarded for “extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.”