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A retired Contra Costa County sheriff’s sergeant received the Award of Valor from the California Peace Officers’ Association (CPOA) earlier this month for his actions during an active shooting in unincorporated San Ramon last year.
“With this award, CPOA recognizes acts that, at their very core, demonstrate the nobility of the policing profession,” according to association officials.
Retired Sgt. Gary Clark was honored during the CPOA annual awards luncheon Oct. 6.
The shooting incident occurred Sept. 18, 2013 when Clark, working as a per diem deputy sheriff in the civil unit, and his partner attempted to conduct an eviction at a residence in the gated community of Norris Canyon Estates.
During the eviction process, resident Mike Nabil Ghoneim reportedly fired his shotgun through his front door. A locksmith’s supervisor who was working to drill out the front door lock — reportedly at the command of law enforcement — was shot in his inner thigh, resulting in a substantial loss of blood.
Clark immediately ran to the locksmith’s aid and shielded the victim with his body until he was able to get the injured man to a safer area, authorities said.
While the shooter was still in the house, Clark risked his own safety, twice, to save the life of the injured locksmith, according to authorities. Clark ran past the line of fire, up a hill, to get a gurney from a staged ambulance; and then again, when he pushed the gurney with the victim back up the hill to the waiting ambulance.
The shooting led to a nearly four-hour police standoff before Ghoneim was arrested.
“This award recognizes extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty. Public safety officers must have exhibited extraordinary courage, decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life, where the act is deemed above and beyond the call of duty,” CPOA officials said.
Contra Costa County Sheriff David O. Livingston last year awarded the Silver Medal of Valor to Clark for his actions during the San Ramon incident.
Thank You Sgt. Clark.
Yes, thanks to Sgt. Clark for responding to a dangerous situation with bravery, as well as concern for the wounded locksmith.
I would like to say thank you, Sgt. Clark, for your selfless act of bravery and for being instrumental in getting the victim to safety. You risked your own life to make sure that he received the prompt medical care he needed to survive this traumatic event. In a way, you gave his children and grandchildren a gift: more time for precious family time with their father/grandpa, As a friend of the victim I, for one, am VERY GRATEFUL to you and thankful that you were there on scene. I am also thankful that you are okay and pray that God blesses you and your family always.