The Region - News from Dec. 22, 1985

Three Monterey Park police officers were awarded Medals of Valor and 13 others received lesser medals in a ceremony hosted by state Supreme Court Justice Malcolm Lucas. The Medal of Valor, the department’s highest, was awarded for the first time in the department’s 50-year history. Capt. Robert W. Collins got a Medal of Valor for wrestling away a hand grenade in January, 1984, from a mentally disturbed man, holding it in his hand until he could find the pin, and finally disarming the device. Also receiving the award were Patrolmen Manuel Ocampo and Walter Osman. Ocampo rescued a woman from her burning home in January, 1982, moments before the house exploded. Osman used a garden hose to keep a house fire in May, 1984, in check until firefighters arrived.