Chief Charlie Beck Honors 25 Officers with the Distinguished Purple Heart & Medal of Valor Awards for Heroism Ceremony to be Hosted by Actor G.W. Bailey NA14149JK

September 1, 2014

WHAT:
Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Charlie Beck will present the Department’s highest honors to 25 recipients at the “Above & Beyond” Medal of Valor and Purple Heart Awards Ceremony.  Veteran actor G.W. Bailey will emcee the event and vividly narrate and bring to life this year’s stories of heroism.

WHEN:
Thursday, September 4, 2014
11:30 a.m. Luncheon
12:15 p.m. Awards Ceremony

WHERE:
The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland
6801 Hollywood Boulevard, 5th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90028

WHO:
Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck
Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer
Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin
Los Angeles Councilman Mitchell Englander
Los Angeles Councilman Mitch O’Farrell
Los Angeles Councilman Curren Price
Los Angeles Police Commission President Steve Soboroff
Los Angeles Police Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa
Los Angeles Police Commissioner Kathleen Kim
Los Angeles Police Commissioner Robert Saltzman
Los Angeles Police Commission Executive Director, Richard Tefank
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas
Long Beach Police Chief Jim McDonnell
Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse
Glendale Police Chief Robert Castro
Master of Ceremonies G.W. Bailey, Actor
James Duff, creator and executive producer (Major Crimes)
Mike Berchem, producer (Major Crimes, The Closer)
Michael Robin, producer (The Closer)
Producer Andy Sacks (Major Crimes, The Closer)
Jim Leonard (Major Crimes, The Closer)
Sam Linsky, writer (Major Crimes)
Phillip Keene, actor (Major Crimes)

WHY:
Real life events will seem like works of fiction when exceptional stories of bravery and heroism are narrated by one of Hollywood’s veteran actors, G.W. Bailey.

During the awards presentation, the audience will hear how one officer was shot between the eyes after responding to a radio call for a kidnapping in progress.  Another narrative involves a recent academy graduate and a training officer on a seemingly routine traffic stop that almost cost both officers their lives when they were shot at point blank range.  It is hard to forget the wild pursuit that ended with a barrage of gun fire from a suspect armed with an AK-47 assault rifle and the officers who saved the lives of numerous innocent bystanders.  An additional account took place on Christmas Day, when an officer risked his life to pull a driver to safety from a car fully engulfed in flames.

ADDITIONAL:
The Los Angeles Police Foundation (LAPF) is the proud host of the “Above & Beyond Ceremony.”  The mission of the Los Angeles Police Foundation is to create partnerships to provide resources and programs that help the Los Angeles Police Department perform at their highest level and to enhance LAPD-community relations. Since its founding in 1998, the LAPF has invested more than $21 million in grants to the LAPD in the areas of equipment and technology upgrades, specialized training, community outreach, and youth programs.

INTERVIEWS:
Medal of Valor and Purple Heart honorees will be available for print and broadcast interviews after the awards ceremony on September 4, 2014.  Please contact Police Officer Sara Faden, Media Relations Section at (213) 486-5919, or via e-mail at: 30761@lapd.lacity.org.

CONTACT:
For more information, please contact Police Officer Sara Faden, LAPD Media Relations Section at (213) 486-5919, or (213) 841-2064.  For more information regarding the Los Angeles Police Foundation, please call Pat Berni at (213) 489-4636, or visit: www.lapolicefoundation.org.