working an assignment at the bank of america at 1525 market street. mike was there to work a security assignment at the bank. as well as monitor a protest that was going on outside. where there was over 50 participants in the protest. a career criminal by the name of joseph hike, chose this day to commit a robbery. mr. hike has been arrested 21 sometime -- 21 times in the city of san francisco. mr. hike produced a handgun to a teller face and ordered her to put all the money in the paper

bag as he held a gun to her face. officer simmons was inside the bank at which time he observed there was a robbery in process inside of the bank. officer simmons immediately notified communications and called for back-up. knowing that he was inside of the bank, officer simmons turned off his radio not to alert the suspect and knowing that dispatch acknowledged that he needed emergency assistance. officer simmons then developed a plan on how he would get closer to the suspect who was committing the robbery. officer simmons took up several different positions of concealment as he crept closer and closer to the bank robbery suspect. while doing this, mr. hike still had the gun out and pointing it at the teller's face. officer simmons noticed that

hike start to shake erratically with the gun in his hand. and was concerned of his safety and the safety of the approximately 50 people in the bank. officer simmons drew his firearm but reholsterred because he was in fear of hurting someone in the bank or creating a hostage situation. after holsterring his firearm he got as close to the suspect to take action. he observed mr. hike turn his focus to the money being placed in the bag. at that point officer simmons knowing that he couldn't wait for back-up and not wanting to make the situation worse pounced on mr. hike very quickly.

with total disregard for his own safety, he engaged in a violent struggle with an armed suspect. until he was finally taken in custody and the gun went sliding across the bank. officer simmons displayed outstanding bravery in the face of danger and finally his back-up arrived. his quick actions foiled a robbery that could result in the loss of his life and those inside and out of the bank. being alone did not deter officer simmons of his duty to protect the public. he did so with his own risk of personal safety and his actions displayed courage. ladies and gentlemen, officer simmons is awarded the silver medal of valor. [applause]

>> officer michael simmons. [applause]

captain mcfadden, please. and may i have sergeant dominco defida. >> on october 25, 2012, at approximately 1:30 in the morning. sergeant domenico was working as an investigator with the major crimes investigation unit. while conducting a robbery investigation, sergeant noticed a gray buick pass by him. he again noticed the vehicle as he surveilled areas around for possible robberies. as he drove the area, sergeant

noticed that the same buick was traveling behind him and following closely. sergeant made several attempts to elude the vehicle behind him. though it continued to follow closely as he made multiple turns. and sergeant decided to make a u-turn to see if the vehicle would follow him and it followed closely behind. at silver avenue, the vehicle pulled up to sergeant's vehicle and fired shots and tristrikinge vehicle as he duck for cover. the suspects sped away north on bay shore towards industrial way. without hesitation or due regard for his own safety, sergeant pursued the armed suspects.

he immediately notified dispatch and continued to pursue the vehicle northbound on the 101 freeway. the vehicle exited at caesar chavez and patrillo with the sergeant close behind as he gave out vehicle descriptions. the occupants fired at sergeant several more time as he followed undeterred in his actions to apprehend them. the suspect vehicle stopped on the 2500 block of bryant street. where the occupants jumped out and fled towards 23rd. sergeant exited his vehicle and took the driver of the suspect vehicle in custody by himself while he radioed the location of the other two fleeing suspects.

sergeant continued for corresponding units for the apprehension of other two. he later observed two bullet holes in his vehicle that led to the apprehension of the other two suspects and two firearms. sergeant desenza continued apprehension of two criminals and his quick actions led to the arrest of the three suspects that otherwise will be a constant threat to the citizens of san francisco, i think that the best compliment you could give to victor is that you have family members in risk, you want him to follow up.

sergeant dasenza is awarded the silver medal of valor. [applause] >> sergeant dacenza. his award was the last one for

the evening and the chief will give closing comments and after that i will make an announcement. >> so we are almost home, you can tell from the tales you heard, that the phrase that comes from mind from that same "three musketeers" movie is magnificent valor. [applause] so they have made the mistake of allowing us into this beautiful hall. so we should keep control of it as long as we can. please, family, friends, everyone, let's celebrate these people that give no greater credence to the phrase, sf's finest than those accounts you heard. we will mill around and take pictures. i would ask that the group that received awards are since we didn't have room, if you would

stay in your seats or the front row, we can get a picture of everyone, that would be a great keep sake before adjourning to the place for refreshments. with that, i will give it back to sergeant monroe, and thank you mayor and the commissioners and the captains, and for reading those, though captain mcfadden you cannot wound a car -- i will straighten that out with them later. again thank you again for coming. >> so can we please rise for the retrieval of the colors, please.

>> another round of applause for the color guard, please. also a couple of final things. i have noticed that supervisor breed showed up from district 5. thank you, supervisor. and we have a reception at the top of the stairs. and si -- and i have been waiting to say this all night, in the all of antiquities. i want to thank everyone and the families and the officers who were not here that are out on the street doing what these guys do every day. thank you very much.

>> so today's a very special day and i welcome you all of you and on behalf of the mexican museum this has been a dream and sometimes a dream becomes a nightmare because you have to work to make that dream come true and muffling king said i have a dream. >> now our dream has come through it's been a realtor now after 20 years of struggling (clapping). >> and it's historical in nature because we got the board of supervisors vote 11 to zero.

which is historical in nature because a lot of times they don't agree; right? which is loophole right but they all agree on this one. we thank the board of supervisors for that 11 zero vote and ed lee for preventing the project going forward. but that's today and i want to go back 20 years because prior to 20 years there was a map with a vision pete rodriguez which we'll hear more about later and he started the mexican museum in the district of san francisco. but 20 years ago it was an elected official who i have had the pleasure of working with on many occasions on doing many

things in our community who at the time was the supervisor jim gonzales who was here today who at that time, made sure we got this piece of land to build the mexican museum and thank you, mr. gonzales and at the time there was unfortunately, he couldn't be here - the bells are ringing but we had manual gonzales and he was the president of the commission so i want to honor him bike like i honored mr. gonzales two years ago to make sure we got this land and you know what you talk about a mexican museum. well, let me tell you there has been (speaking spanish).

people from 'coz restrict and people from venezuela and all of latin america who came together to unit to get in museum built (clapping) >> and that was the most beautiful thing about having all latinos come together by the way, we came together all because we knew what the mexican museum would do. i want to thank our agency our african-american brothers and sisters and our earn pan brothers and sisters they helped get in mexican museum built.

and with that i'd like to introduce our president of the festival my deep friend give him a hand (clapping) >> you have to help me, you support me on the mexican day. i'm proud to be chair for the nonprofit that actually provides the festival who was here for leila detains yesterday (clapping) >> you, you know we've become the community hearts for san francisco so we've been waiting to welcome the mexican museum for a long, long time. it fulfills the original violation in the district as a

culture hub that would super economic growth for the region and the many travelers that are so important for this economy. the mexican museum joins the large institutions on say west coast including right here the jewish contemporary museum for the arts and the xoorlg museum and so many other great institutions. let's have a hand for our wonderful cultural institution. i would be a miss if i didn't say a few words in spanish >> (speaking spanish). i'm very proud to be able to

welcome the mexican museum hereto the gardens. (speaking spanish). today, we welcome the mexican community as part of the center as well of the representing the best of what is the human creativity. (speaking spanish). mexico is today represented here at the gardens as well. (speaking spanish). thank you for purring that dream and never letting it go. (speaking spanish). we'll be further enriched by your presence. today you are proof of that famous line i didn't we can

(clapping) >> talking about legions talking about people who helped get this piece of land please give a big round of applause for our former mayor (clapping). >> my brother. (speaking spanish). please welcome the mexico carlos

felix (clapping) >> (speaking spanish). good afternoon. it's an honor as would you be able up general of mexico to participate in this ceremony which is now the mexican museum. i want to recognize the efforts of all the people who are worked are tirelessly 0 through all those years to make in circular project a realtor for the san francisco bay area. i know there is a long list of people like elected officials but also the leaders of our community and we're very grateful for your work. this began with the mission of mr. rodriguez and was continued

with various work for the people who dedicated themselves to make n this a realtor. congratulations to all of you. i want to recognize the dedicated support from mayor ed lee and the board of supervisors especially david campos and supervisor avalos and kim. thank you for your enthusiasm and commitment. and this is a rich and vast collection of the mexican museum. this projects are only done with the participation of the elected officials and the community working hand in hand for the same goal. san francisco is the rich cultural heritage. the presence of - i mention a

few examples felt mexican enrichment belongs to all the san franciscans who proudly celebrate one of the most important assets. the mexican museums new home is a culture site that is made of various privileges that together represent one of the most complexities in this country. today mexicans all over the world proudly celebrate the independence of mexico which also marks the or begins of california. mexico and california work together and mexican california started the contrast of a very important relationship two

hundred years ago. a few minutes ago the office of mayor lee the officials and diminished members of our community met with a long-standing transmission of friendship with the mexican community to raise the mexican flag on the mayor's office to join the celebrations. therefore (clapping) therefore it's a of a special significance that on this day we celebrate the new home of the mexican museum as consult it's been an you honor to support this cure all project. we will continue to work with all of you with the composition

e consolidation of the mexican museum. it's not just for mexicans and latinos at any time for all the people in san francisco that are very important of their multiple diversity) speaking spanish) (clapping) >> it's my pleasure to introduce to you the chair of the board of directors of mexican museum that served four years on the board and it's andy. (clapping) >> my job today actually is to

introduce also honor some of the people who were very important players in the development of the 3450u78 so ladies and gentlemen, mayor lee and distinguished members of the board of supervisors and distinguished city commissioners and fellow members of the board of mexican members and past and present staff. in addition i want to thank our volunteers former supervisor jim gonzales and former mayor willie brown. and christina and assistant district attorney. 20 years ago in san francisco with support of the mayor's office and the board of supervisors and the redevelopment agency we dedicated this land to be able to share this great land to be

fully realized but us by 20 fourteen. and today with the hard work of many, many people over the last decades we have a dream. our future homes here at the justice department i jury the jewish museum to the right and the museum to my right the other museums and we have a center of the arts and to the west the filipino center and the san francisco museum. together we have per certified and this will soon be complete with the edition of the mexican museum. i hope i don't forget remember

in weddings the only people that don't forget with are the people who didn't get viefltd. thank you to the many supporters throughout the years were a very special thanks to the many artists who's art is in the museum and to the teachers who bring their students interest also a special thanks to the inspection a first recognition sorry of unwaving support and to ann robert for her support as well. it's our job as trustees to guard and protect the art of the mexican museum. it's for you, we have guarded