LAPD's Medal of Valor Ceremony Held in Hollywood

Ten Los Angeles Police Department officers were honored Thursday afternoon with a Medal of Valor, the department's highest honor.

The 50th Annual Medal of Valor Awards Ceremony and luncheon was held at the Kodak Theatre Complex Grand Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland.

Medals of Valor were awarded to:

Officers Thorsten Timmermans and Owen Berger and retired Sgt. Dan Gardner. The three were on patrol on Nov. 7., 2007, in the southeast area of the city when they responded to a call of a man with a gun who was holding a woman hostage. They freed the hostage and arrested the gunman after a shootout during which Berger was wounded in the arm.

Detectives Daniel Hanabusa and Rafael Acosta and officers Rudolph Rivera, Jose Salazar, Benjamin Aguilera and Roy Reza. On June 25, 2008, the six came under fire while serving a search warrant in the Hollenbeck area at a location known for gang and drug activity.

Officer Custodio Ponce, who was shot and wounded on Feb. 1, 1996, while on an anti-gang patrol with his partner at a housing project in the Hollenbeck area.

The luncheon was hosted by the Los Angeles Police Foundation, which is the largest source of private funding for the LAPD.

City News Service was used to compile this report.