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Presentation of the 2016 Florida Police Chiefs Association “Lifesaving Award” (for the period of July-December, 2016) for the "State of Florida and the Coral Gables Police Department Silver Medal of Valor Award," for Officer’s Nestor Chavez, Kristopher Clute, Nayel Medina, Alex Jorva, and Daniel Sotolongo, along with Sergeant’s Alex Escobar, Jesus Garcia and Paul Koppel.
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On October 14, 2016, Officer’s Nestor Chavez, Kristopher Clute, Nayel Medina, Alex Jorva, and Daniel Sotolongo along with Sergeant’s Alex Escobar, Jesus Garcia and Paul Kopple encountered a 54 year old male in a crisis state of mind that had attempted to end his life. At 12:35 hours, the Officers and Sergeants arrived to the 2700 Block of Lejeune Road after the Coral Gables Police communications center received several 911 calls of a man covered in blood displaying a knife walking in traffic. The officers and Sergeants positioned their marked units in the northbound lanes taking tactical positions pointing the duty handguns at the male and giving verbal commands to “Drop the knife!” The male continued to ignore the verbal commands and began to close the distance as he walked toward the officers. Officers elected to transition to a less lethal weapon in an attempt to safely stop the male from harming himself, innocent bystanders or the officers themselves. The Taser was deployed several times as loud verbal commands were given to drop the knife. The male then dropped the knife and was immediately restrained by the officers and administered first aid by the police officers on scene followed by Coral Gables Fire Rescue personnel. Due to the action of the officers, the Florida Police Chief Association awarded the Coral Gables Police Officers and Sergeants the 2016 Lifesaving Award for the period of July-December 2016. The Coral Gables Police Department is also awarding these officers and sergeants the Silver Medal of Valor for their actions on October 14, 2016