San Mateo Officers Honored For Stopping School Bombing Suspect
SAN MATEO (BCN) -- Four San Mateo policemen were among 10 officers awarded the state's Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Tuesday morning for their actions in apprehending a teenager who showed up armed with pipe bombs and other weapons at Hillsdale High School last year.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the medal - awarded to public safety officers for extraordinary acts above and beyond the call of duty - to San Mateo police Capt. Kevin Raffaelli, and Officers Rick Apecechea, Jeff Dellinges and Roberto Gonzales.
The four officers responded to Hillsdale High on the morning of Aug. 24, 2009, after the suspect, Alexander Youshock, who was 17 at the time, allegedly entered the high school with a tactical jacket that contained pipe bombs, a chainsaw and a sword.
Prosecutors allege he intended to harm school staff and students.
The officers first assisted school staff, who had tackled the armed Youshock and were holding him on the ground.
When it was determined that Youshock's vest contained live explosives, none of the officers backed off, even when Capt. Rafaelli, who was holding Youshock down, ordered his three colleagues to move away from the suspect in case the bombs went off, according to the governor's office.
Rafaelli managed to cut the tactical vest off the suspect's body while the other three lifted him up and took him to a patrol car.
A subsequent investigation revealed that Youshock's vest contained 10 pipe bombs that could have caused injury or death.
"The 10 peace officers awarded the Medal of Valor today showed tremendous bravery in risking their lives for others," said Attorney General Jerry Brown, who recommends officers for the awards.
"Today we have the opportunity to thank them for their extraordinary courage," he said.
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