'You can't train for that': Fresno Police officer honored with Medal of Valor

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - The Fresno Police Department held its awards ceremonial Friday greeting and honored recipients from 2020 done 2023. 

There were a fig of recognitions fixed including the Life Saving Medal, Exceptional Performance Award, Medal of Merit, and The Medal of Valor, which went to an serviceman who acted rapidly erstwhile a fishy tried stabbing him.

"You can't bid for that," said Camacho. "You know, you conscionable got to fundamentally bid for the moment." 

It was initially a regular burglary telephone that Camacho said rapidly turned convulsive aft learning that the burglary fishy was inactive wrong the location and tried attacking him arsenic helium walked retired to his patrol car to constitute the report.  

"As I was walking outside, I felt a thump successful my back," helium said.  "And I didn't recognize that the pistillate fishy was trying to stab me."

The pistillate fishy past ran backmost wrong and took the unfortunate hostage. 

Camacho was capable to safely de-escalate the situation. 

"I was capable to instrumentality into custody peacefully, which was the cleanable outcome. I was safe," helium said.  "The fishy was safe, and my archetypal unfortunate was safe."

Interim Police Chief Mindy Casto said galore of the situations officers spell done are conscionable a fraction of what they bash connected a regular basis.

"So though we similar to stock the victories and triumphs," Casto said.  "You know, we bash person to beryllium cautious due to the fact that it's our occupation to support radical safe, not needfully exposure everyone to the trauma that these officers spot connected a regular basis."