Three reserve officers from the Gustine Police Department were presented with their Medals of Valor on Aug. 9 in Burbank from the California Reserve Peace Officers Association.

Officers Jose Gallardo, Luciano Zelvaggio, and Emanuel Gonzalez rescued a man who was trapped in a smoking overturned vehicle along an Arizona highway last September while returning from a trip to New Mexico to pick up new patrol vehicles.

The three officers were driving on Interstate 40 and were passing through Kingman, Arizona when they noticed a woman standing along the freeway frantically waving a white rag trying to get someone to stop.

The officers pulled over to help and noticed a 2018 Toyota Tacoma crew cab truck wrecked and turned on a side in a field adjacent to the interstate. Smoke was billowing from the Toyota’s engine compartment as the officers attempted to assist the trapped man.

Officers Zelvaggio and Gallardo ran to the vehicle and could hear a man yelling for help and that he feared he was going to die. Officer Gonzalez began to slow traffic down and speak to the passing truck drivers for a fire extinguisher and was successful in finding one.

The angle of the wrecked truck, combined with the man’s inability to free himself made the extraction difficult but the three officers worked together and were able to free the man in about five minutes time. All the while, the smoke continued to get thicker and the officers feared it could explode at any minute.

All three officers were able to make the trip to Burbank and get their awards.

“As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve,” said Gallardo.

“A police officer sacrifices or gives his life for something greater than oneself,” said Gonzalez.

“You don’t become a police officer for the gun or the badge, however for moments like this,” said Zelvaggio.