Governor honors San Francisco Police Officer Barry Parker

By Bay City News Service

February 8, 2006

A San Francisco Police Officer visited Sacramento Tuesday to receive an honor from the California Department of Justice.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger personally awarded Officer Barry Parker the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in a ceremony in the Governor's Consul Room, according to the governor's press office.

Parker was injured when he and Officer Isaac Espinoza were attacked on April 10, 2004. Espinoza was killed in that attack. The two officers were in plain clothes when they approached suspected gang member David Hill, 21, of San Francisco, to question him about selling drugs. Hill allegedly opened fire on the officers with an automatic weapon, killing Espinoza and injuring Parker.

Schwarzenegger's office reports that the justice department awarded Parker the medal because Parker tried in vain to save Espinoza by using his own body as a human shield.

Hill later pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges, and is currently awaiting trial in San Francisco.

The Police Department Wednesday issued a statement announcing the award. Charles Plummer, the chairman of the governor's Medal of Valor Review Board, wrote in a letter to Chief Heather Fong, "You're officer so distinguished himself among his peers through his acts of bravery, heroism and devotion to duty, that the board selected him as the appropriately deserving recipient of this award.''

"The San Francisco Police Department is pleased and honored that one of its own has been selected for this award,'' Fong said in the statement. "Officer Parker, in his total devotion to duty even while his life was in danger, represents the best qualities of the men and women of this department.''

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