Area Sheriff's Detective Honored with Medal of Valor

A San Diego County Sheriff’s detective credited with saving a fellow deputy’s life was honored with the Medal of Valor Sept. 26 by Governor Jerry Brown and State Attorney General Kamala Harris.

On September 25, 2012, Deputy Mike Spears was dispatched with two other deputies to a Lakeside apartment to arrest a suspected child molester, Sheriff’s officials wrote in an announcement made on Facebook.

He and fellow Detective Ali Perez and Sergeant Craig Johnson got no response, so they kicked the door open and were met with gunfire, officials said.

“Both deputies were hit,” officials wrote. “Deputy Spears used his own body to shield Sgt. Johnson and dragged him to another apartment for cover. Det. Perez was able to crawl out of the apartment into a stairway.”

Det. Perez is recovering from surgeries while Sgt. Johnson remains a member of the force, according to the announcement.

County Sherriff’s officials serve a number of cities including Lemon Grove and most of its immediate neighbors. Medal of Valor recognized those law-enforcement officials that go above and beyond the call of duty in a ceremony held in Sacramento, according to state officials.