Redondo Beach Officer Honored With Valor Medal By President Trump

REDONDO BEACH, CA – A Redondo Beach Harbor Patrol officer was one of one dozen law enforcement authorities honored with valor medals by Present Donald Trump Tuesday. Officer David Poirier Jr. received a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor for saving the lives of three people who were swept off a breakwater on Feb. 24, 2016.

Poirier was among the Harbor Patrol officers who were first to arrive at the scene when two men and two women were swept into the ocean from the Redondo Beach breakwater while fishing.

Poirier swam to the victims, two of whom were holding onto their son, who had hit his head and appeared to be dead, when another wave swept them into the water, according to authorities and an account in the Daily Breeze.

The officer was able to grab the dead man – later identified as One Nguyen, 36, of Westminster, Colorado – while the other three victims clung to Poirier, who told The Breeze the victims were pulling him under as tried to get them back onto the rocks.

Rescuers soon arrived and pulled Poirier and the victims from the water.

Nguyen was pronounced dead at the scene.

"When faced with danger, they each put the lives of others before their own," Trump said of the Medal of Valor recipients. "These are very brave people that I'm standing with today."

Also among the honorees were six officers who responded to the mass shooting at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino on Dec. 2, 2015.

City News Service and Patch staffer Emily Holland contributed to this post; Photo: WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) presents the Public Safety Medal of Valor to firefighter/Harbor Patrol Officer David Poirier (R) of Redondo Beach Fire Department in California during an award ceremony at the East Room of the White House February 20, 2018 in Washington, DC. The medal is the nation's highest award to public safety officers who have 'exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.' (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)