Contact: Alexia Retallack, Office of Communications and Education (916)653-8124

The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will honor seven wardens with awards for valor and lifesaving efforts during a luncheon in Sacramento March 7. Warden Kyle Kroll will receive the department's highest honor, the Purple Star, for injuries he sustained when Marijuana cultivators shot him during a raid. "I'm proud to know that any one of our game wardens is prepared to take extra steps above and beyond in the protection of California's people and our natural resources," Chief Nancy Foley said. "The game wardens we will honor are representative of the extremely high level of professionalism and commitment of all of our officers."
The Purple Star is DFG's equivalent of the Purple Heart service medal, and is presented to an officer injured in the line of duty. Kroll was shot in both legs after marijuana growers ambushed his team. Six other wardens will also be honored at the ceremony with DFG Medals of Valor and Lifesaving Awards or both.
Awards with be presented to:
?Ģ Warden Kroll - Medal of Valor and Purple Star
?Ģ Lt. John Nores - Medal of Valor and Lifesaving Award
?Ģ Warden Adam Kavanagh - Medal of Valor and Lifesaving award
?Ģ Warden Matthew Shanley - Medal of Valor
?Ģ Warden Larry Bruckenstein - Lifesaving Award
?Ģ Warden Brian Boyd - Lifesaving Award
?Ģ Warden Jacob Nicholas - Lifesaving Award
Warden Todd Tognazzini, named Officer of the Year in June of 2006, will also be recognized at the ceremony.
The luncheon will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Radisson Inn in Sacramento.
Wardens Bruckenstein, Boyd, and Nicholas will receive Lifesaving Awards for their exceptional resourcefulness in rescuing an 83-year-old grandmother with dementia who had been lost for more than 14 hours in a remote section of Tehama County.
Warden Shanley will receive a Medal of Valor for his bravery and quick thinking in a confrontation with an armed assailant Oct. 15, 2003 in Loma Linda. After being held at gunpoint while off duty, Shanley risked his life to protect a California Highway Patrol officer.
Kroll will receive a Medal of Valor and a Purple Star, and Kavanagh and Nores will receive Medals of Valor and Lifesaving Awards for their bravery in a marijuana eradication west of Los Gatos on Aug. 5, 2005. After reaching the plantation, growers ambushed the team, shooting Kroll through both legs and imploring Nores to return fire. Kavanagh volunteered to cut a landing pad, breaking his cover and making him the target of aggressors, after learning the lush vegetation made it impossible to airlift the injured warden from the area. Due to the professionalism, bravery and self-sacrifice of all three wardens, Kroll survived, recovered and ultimately returned to full duty.

For further assistance, contact the DFG Office of Public Affairs http://www.dfg.ca.gov/news/contact.html