press release
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Two veteran California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were honored
with the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in Washington, D. C. earlier today. The award,
which is the highest national award for valor by a law enforcement officer or firefighter, was
presented to CHP Officers Sean Haller and Rafael Rivera for their heroic actions during a
February 2010 shooting in the Fresno County town of Minkler.
Presenting the prestigious award to the 18 recipients was Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney
General Eric Holder. Each of the honorees exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal
safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life. Including today’s awardees, 78 medals have
been presented since the first recipients were honored in 2003.
“Officers Haller and Rivera exhibited great personal courage, while putting their own lives on
the line in an attempt to rescue their fallen brother that day,” said CHP Commissioner Joe
Farrow. “The actions of these two brave men truly exemplify courage, and I am honored to have
them among the ranks of California’s finest.”
Both officers were grateful yet humble after receiving the award, and regretful in the fact the
incident that lead to their honor resulted in the deaths of Reedley Police Department Officer
Javier Bejar and Fresno County Sheriff's Office Detective Joel Wahlenmaier.
Following the ceremony, Haller said, "I'm extremely honored to be selected to receive this
award. It's bittersweet, though, because Javier and Joel are very deserving of this, and
unfortunately we lost two good officers that day."
Rivera's reaction was much the same as his partners. "I really appreciate that we got recognized,
but sometimes I feel like Joel and Javier should be here instead of us, or someone standing in for
them."
Both Haller and Rivera have been with the CHP for more than a decade and were awarded in
2011 with a state Medal of Valor from Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. for their heroic efforts.
