5 Police Officers Honored for Exceptional Service

Five San Diego police officers received department awards in a ceremony Monday. One officer received a medal of valor, one a lifesaving medal, and three, lifesaving certificates.

An exceptional performance citation was presented to a deputy district attorney assigned to the Police Department.

Receiving the awards were:

- Detective Richard D. Jenkins, medal of valor. Jenkins was cited for bravery in disregarding his own safety while shielding an officer who had been shot and wounded while attempting to arrest a suspected drug dealer.

- Officer Scott Wilkinson, lifesaving medal. Scott was cited for braving flames and smoke when he dashed into a building that was threatened by a brush fire to rescue a 2-month-old baby. He wrapped the baby in a blanket and ran through flames to bring it to safety.

- Detectives Gary C. Jaus and Robert A. Hurt, lifesaving citations. Jaus and Hurt were cited for responding to a police call based on an incomplete phone message. They discovered an unconscious man on a floor, and recognizing the symptoms of an apparent heart attack, provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation until paramedics arrived. The man survived.

- Reserve Officer Lee Louis, lifesaving citation. Louis was cited for going to the aid of an accident victim on Interstate 805 after seeing a car overturn. Louis, who was off-duty, provided first aid for the injured man until an ambulance arrived.

- Deputy Dist. Atty. Mike Carleton was cited for his training of officers and for help given investigators in preparing for search and arrest warrants.