Deputy Troy Zube
 

Deputy Troy Zube received the Silver Medal of Valor for his actions on 
April 10, 2004, when he became involved in a foot pursuit of a wanted felon.
His actions, performed under extreme stress, demonstrated courage, professionalism,
and protected the community.

A parolee with an outstanding warrant for methamphetamine and firearms possession
was spotted in the City of Watsonville.  He was also a suspect in numerous commercial
burglaries and was known to be heavily armed and would forcefully resist arrest.  The
parolee fled in a vehicle and endangered the lives of a woman and two toddlers as he 
nearly ran them over in a crosswalk.  The suspect continued to drive erratically and 
crashed the vehicle.

A California Highway Patrol Officer arrived on scene and the suspect emerged from
the overturned vehicle with a handgun and shot the officer.  The suspect ran from the 
scene to a busy shopping center.  Deputy Zube arrived and chased after the suspect 
into the shopping center parking lot.  The suspect ignored his verbal commands to stop, 
and instead, carjacked a vehicle.  When the suspect began to leave in the vehicle, 
Deputy Zube fired his handgun at the earliest safe opportunity in an attempt to stop the
suspect from further endangering fellow officers and the public.  The suspect was injured
which effectively altered his course of actions as he fled the area.  Only four days later,
the same suspect lead officers on a similar vehicle chase in Visalia that ended when the
suspect threatened to shoot officers with an assault rifle.  The suspect was killed during
the confrontation.