News and Articles
05/09/2008
County Corrections Officer Awarded State\‘s Highest Honor
A staff member at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility was awarded the two highest honors given by the State Corrections Department.
Captain Dean Lopez was awarded the Medal of Valor for bravery displayed in September 6, 1985 at the Central New Mexico Correctional Facility in Los Lunas. Captain Lopez was also awarded the Medal of Honor for bravery displayed January 22, 1988 at the Penitentiary of New Mexico.
Lopez received the overdue medals for courageous acts displayed in the line of duty while working as correctional officers. Corrections Department Employees are eligible to earn either the Medal of Honor and/or the Medal of Valor when they display extraordinary courage in the face of potential peril, performing with exceptional poise, while utilizing sound judgment to help save the life of another person.
The awards were presented during a Correctional Officers’ Week awards ceremony today at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe.