faced with serious bodily injury or death, these officers remain steadfast and determined to protect not only themselves and one another, but the public at large from the disregard of the fleeing fugitive. sir john ryan, officer lou andrelieu and reyes , when confd with a violent situation, they responded with no were the bravery and poise. they were fully responsible to the danger, but to the rapidly- devolving life-threatening circumstances that unfolded as a result of them trying to apprehend him. based upon this information, i have no choice but toput the men for a medal of valor. to " c.s. lewis, coverage is not

simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue of the testing point, something these officers were tested with. to our command staff, ladies and gentlemen, i present to you the recipients of the silver medal of valor, sergeant scott ryan, and officer reuben reyes. [applause] offic>> we are at the part of te

ceremony now where we will present the gold medal of valor, the highest award given from the sentences go police department. tonight we have six, an unprecedented number. i would like captain ann mannix, and officer minkel, everson, griffin and tursi. >> can we do this separately? there are two separate incidents. but go in your order.

-- >> let's go in your order. >> tonight it is my honor to present to you the heroic acts of officer joseph everson and officer minkel. wednesday, october 13, 2011, there were patrolling together as the violent reduction unit they have been assigned in uniform and driving a large unit. they were driving along pulled street when they ran the license plate of a car in front of them. the registration sticker display showed 2012, indicating car registration. their onboard computer results showing the registration expired in 2009. noting the discrepancy, the officer decided to pull the car

over to investigate. as they activated the licensed siren, the car turned east and exhilarated at a higher rate of speed. suddenly the car with the driver in the front passenger pulled over just west of oregon, appearing to heat for the traffic stop. -- to he'd for the traffic stop. just as they were exiting the car for the traffic stop, the driver of the stopped vehicle abruptly took off running. he ran east along bush street and turned south on larkin street, running in the middle of traffic. not knowing what they had, the officers a housimmediately gaind chase on foot. officers minkel and everson are gaining on a suspect when suddenly he turned and fired

multiple shots from a handgun he had hidden in his possession. the officers debated around by movement in her incubating on this subject. at great risk to their own lives, these officers continue their pursuit of the now known violent subject and prepared to return fire. officer everson exercise a considerable amount of restraint as there were numerous pedestrians. he did not in gauge the suspect. officer minkel had a clear range of fire and engaged in two rounds of fire. fearing for his partner's it did, he ordered the loan front passenger tuesday and the suspect vehicle and ran to assist. not knowing what to expect when he rounded the corner, he continued toward the danger, and ultimately ended up providing

cover as officers moved into reductioa safe area. the suspect had a mind set he was not going back to prison, as he was a bird strike ended it with a long history of incarceration. even stated to the passenger he was not going to be caught. 32 caliber handgun he fired until empty of the officers had been stolen in a san francisco burglary a week prior in currently wanted on two outstanding felony warrants, including a burglary warrant from the south bay were 20 tons were stolen. these officers made a traffic stop that turned into a life verses death situation. the fact that the suspect ran from the car and officers gave chase, not knowing what they had was not necessarily braid, it was their job. to continue the pursuit of the suspect showed an act of bravery and courage beyond active -- call of duty.

they continue the pursuit of a deadly violent offender. they weighed the risks to their lives and others as they continue to move and ultimately engage the suspect in the battle. officer ever send could have fired upon the moving suspect it chose not to risk the collateral damage. officer minkel, having a clear window of virus, precisely return to rounds, neutralizing that threat to them and the public in general. based on the actions of these officers on that fateful day, officer thomas minkel and everson will be awarded the gold medal of valor, the highest department medal of honor. [applause]

>> again, it is my honor to present you the heroic acts of officer patrick prevent and

michael jersey -- patrick giffin and tursi. there were called to an apartment the man who is threatening to kill those who stood in his way. he was a former tenant. he was gone before officers arrived that day. later, friday, june 24, officers were called to the same apartment building after it was reported someone had fired an assault rifle. no suspect was present, but it was determined an assault rifle had been fired into the sidewalk. the officer was signed -- they were assigned as members of the street crime unit. they developed information that led to the identification of the weapons owner who had an extensive criminal history. they continued their relentless investigation into this event and identified the criminal, determining an additional

possible home address and weapons. on the early morning hours of wednesday, june 29, officer griffin received a phone call that provided of potential location for the now-wanted subject. officer griffin contacted a supervisor and partner. after working a leak investigation the night before, these dedicated officers return to work after just a few hours' rest in an effort to locate and arrests a dangerous criminal. and they met at the station in order to set up surveillance on the suspect in question. they responded to the location at 7:00. officer griffin, the driver, droves through the rear garage area of the identified property. as the approach the garage as the rear, and get a slowly opened. the men saw a car pulling up to the exit, and immediately recognize the driver as the

subject they were seeking. knowing his propensity for violence and the fact that he had numerous weapons, griffin and tursi made a quick decision to park the police carxgñ?ñ? to prevent the exit. they knew they put them selves at risk. officer tursi exited the car and drove his handgun. he then moved to an area of limited coverage north of the gate. simultaneously, officer griffin exited the car and tactfully moved to the tree line south of the gate. while moving to cover, officer tursi saw the suspect moving to his we stand. he then quickly pointed a handgun toward officer griffin. officer tursi yelled gun. the return fire to stop the deadly threat. the suspect appeared to a bid struck as he stopped firing and

continue to drive away from officers. the suspect drove across all lanes and struck parked cars. it took a position of cover, not knowing the suspect had been injured by returned fire. when additional units arrived, it was discovered the suspect had been seriously injured and was found unconscious. officers rendered aide, called for an ambulance, and retrieve the hand and the suspect had used. tonight officers patrick grant and michael tursi are being recognized for their efforts. they are being awarded the gold medal of valor. [applause]

>> captain paul chignell, along with officers tastings ahastingd lopez. >> good evening to you all.

my pleasure to introduce richard hastings and that lopez. -- matt lopez. saturday, july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and asked matt lopez were on duty and in uniform. their primary assignment was to be on a fixed post detail on the imminence of a railway platform on third street between oakdale avenue and plu avenue. this platform and the surrounding areas are notorious for high incidence of robberies, aggravated assaults, indiscriminate shootings, gang activity, illegal firearm possession, as well as a multitude of quality of life cripes. the bayview station has dedicated a high-level police resources to this area,

particularly to a recent rash of robberies on and adjacent to the platform. well on the platform, officers tastings and lopez contacted the subject later identified as kenneth harding jr.. he was on the railway vehicle. the officers determined the suspect was riding without benefit obtained. the officers escorted the subject off of the vehicle without incident and requested he sit down on one of the benches nearby. mr. harding complied with that request well officer lopez conducted a standard warrant record check. as he heard officers radio transmission, he suddenly leapt to his feet and started to run east across third street into the crowded plaza with officers and foot pursuit. suddenly, and from a distance of 10 feet from the pursuing

officers, harding a ride of the northern part of the plaza and reached his right hand under his left arm and then fired several rounds from his handgun at both of the officers. the officers immediately engaged in a firefight with the suspect. he then it fell to the ground, suffering a gunshot wounds. officers approached the suspect to taken into custody and render medical aid. numerous responding officers arrived on the scene and observed the officers surrounded by a mob, many of whom were screaming and provoking hostility towards officers. as they attempted to secure the time seen -- crime scene, the mom became increasingly provocative with the threats directed towards officers. ultimately officers from four police stations and the tactical unit arrived to clear the plaza of the mall.

in the aftermath of the shooting, it was determine the suspect was of recidivist criminal who was wanted in seattle, washington, for the murder of young, pregnant woman just one week before. this inference is the police department delayed -- delineates the criteria that must be met for an officer of the san francisco police department to be awarded the medal of valor. that includes outstanding bravery beyond that expected in a line of duty, or failure to take such action would not justify censure. with the rest of life actually existed and officer had time to evaluate the risk, and where the objective is of the sufficient importance to the risk, and lastly and most importantly, where the officer accomplish the objective. on july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and matthew lopez the kill each and every requested criteria for the medal

of valor. they exemplified bravery of the highest level. in doing their duty and deterred by the fact that their lives were in imminent peril. they engaged in a gunbattle with a career criminal who was engaged with the ones in respect for public life and wanted to escape to not be held accountable for a vicious murder. san francisco police officers know at any time and anywhere they need to put their lives on the line to do their duty to stop a criminal. july 16, 2011, officer richard hastings and mathew lopez put their lives on the line and did their duty. for that, they're being awarded the most prestigious award, the gold medal of valor. [applause]

>> those were the last of the nominees and recipients. the chief amount to the closing. -- will now do the closing.

many of the people on the stage and an audience were present. as amazing as the stories were, you had to see it to believe it. some of the actions these officers took. we recognize the tennis solomon a moment ago, but i want to recognize something. many of officers recognize are not first generation san francisco police officers. four of the six are not first generation san francisco police officers. can i get the other generation of police officers that gave us these police officers to stand up and be recognized. [applause] >> talk about raising your kids right.

another recognition i want to make is we are going to experience in the next 30 days of record exit of police officers, especially commissioned officers due to the sun setting of the retirement program. many of the people that are going out red nominations tonight. if i could, all officers that will be retiring and leaving us, they we think you for your service by getting you to stand. [applause] that is going to close our program. know that all of these officers when they get back to work, they will go out again looking for trouble and probably find it. i trust they will demonstrate again what these officers do every day, and that is keep this city safe. the command staff and commission

will be available for pictures. family and kids for sure. if you can get your metal back from this little guy. thank you very much. hopefully we will see you all again soon. keep the officers in your thoughts and prayers. keep them safe. [applause]

>> we came to seven straight about 10 years ago. -- 7th street about 10 years ago. the environment is huge. it is stronger than willpower. surrounding yourself with artists, being in a culture where artists are driving, and where a huge amount of them is a healthy environment. >> you are making it safer. push, push. that is better. when i start thinking, i see it actually -- sometimes, i do not see it, but when i do, it is usually from the inside out. it is like watching something being spawned. you go in, and you begin to work, excavate, play with the

dancers, and then things began to emerge. you may have a plan that this is what i want to create. here are the ideas i want to play with, but then, you go into the room, and there maybe some fertile ideas that are becoming manifest that are more interesting than the idea you had initially set out to plan. so there has to be this openness for spontaneity. also, a sense that regardless of the deadline, that you have tons of time so the you can keep your creativity alive and not cut it off and just go into old habits. it is a lot like listening. really listening to watch what is going to emerge. i like this thing where you put your foot on his back. let's keep it. were your mind is is how you build your life. if you put it in steel or in

failure, it works. that works. it is a commitment. for most artists, it is a vacation and a life that they have committed themselves to. there is this notion that artists continue to do their work because of some kind of the external financial support. if that was taken away, artists would still do their art. it is not like there is a prerequisite for these things to happen or i will not do it. how could that be? it is the relationship that you have committed to. it is the vocation. no matter how difficult it gets, you are going to need to produce your art. whether it is a large scale or very small scale. the need to create is going to happen, and you are going to have to fulfill it because that

is your life. is your life. [music] hello, i'm ivette torres, and welcome to another addition of the road to recovery . today, we'll be talking about obtaining and retaining employment for people in recovery. joining us in our panel today are david berns, director, district of columbia department of human services,

washington, dc; dr. gary bond, professor of psychiatry, dartmouth psychiatric research center, lebanon, new hampshire; peggy burns, eap counselor, employee assistance program, university of maryland medical system, baltimore city, maryland; neli vasquez-rowland, president, a safe haven, chicago, illinois. of those individuals that are unemployed, there was about a 15.7 percent rate of drug dependency among them. of the ones that are employed with a drug dependency, there were 23.3 million people overall, and about 49.8 percent of them were employed. and from the mental health community, there were 6 million

people who were served by mental health authorities across the nation, and roughly 21 percent, or about, of the 6 million, were employed. what does that tell us? what types of challenges, david, do these individuals present as they approach the employment marketplace? well, that's telling me that, actually, most people that are, that are served by my agency, which provides welfare or tanf services or homeless services, do not have mental health or substance abuse problems. there- but the percentage is a lot higher than the general population. so probably 20 percent of the people that we're serving in tanf have substance abuse problems and a similar type for the homeless programs. but, when they have both substance abuse and poverty

issues, their problems are much, much higher and really need a much more concentrated effort. yeah, for them to get help. and, neli, for, for individuals who are dealing with substance use disorder, let's take them first. what do they present as they come into the marketplace? the underlying issue of drug and alcohol addiction is the underlying issue. the real barrier as to employment are some of the criminal justice backgrounds that people have established along the way that prevent them from getting a job: their financial history, the fact that they may be homeless and don't have a base to operate from, the fact that they might have children in tow. and, you know, education can be a barrier, if, you know, there's a very high likelihood of drug and alcohol addiction and failure to complete a formal education. so the barriers, basically, just go on and on, with the underlying issue being drug and alcohol addiction.