WEST SACRAMENTO – Congratulations and Kudos to California Department of Insurance Detective (CDI) Antonio Camacho who, on May 2, 2019 was awarded the Governor’s State Employee Medal of Valor Silver Medal for an act of bravery that put him in harm’s way and protected a man, and possibly others, from becoming victims of an assault by a man swinging a bat in a threatening manner inside a bank.

The medal was presented to Detective Camacho at the CHP Academy in West Sacramento by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara.  Also present at the ceremony was CDI Enforcement Branch Deputy Commissioner George Mueller.

The California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) affiliate, California Association of Criminal Investigators (CACI) made a financial contribution to CSLEA-CACI Member Camacho to assist him with his parents travel to witness the ceremony in West Sacramento.  Detective Camacho works in CDI’s  Inland Empire Regional Office.

Commisioner Lara & Detective Camacho

Act of Heroism

On September 8, 2017, Fraud Detective Camacho was inside a Wells Fargo Bank in the city of Ontario when he heard a man yelling behind him. Camacho turned around and saw a male carrying a baseball bat in a threatening manner while following another man into the bank.

Detective Camacho, fearing the suspect was going to hit the man with the baseball bat, waited for the suspect to get close to him, at which time he wrapped his hands and arms around the suspect's upper torso and arms preventing the suspect from swinging the bat. He then wrestled the suspect to the ground (face down) and placed him in a rear arm hold. The suspect continued to struggle with Detective Camacho in an attempt to flee. Ontario police officers then responded to the bank and placed the suspect under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon.

Follow-up investigation showed the victim and suspect had a prior altercation. On September 8, 2017, the victim was initially approached by the suspect outside the bank as the suspect ran towards the victim with the bat. The victim, scared for his life, ran into the bank followed by the suspect. The suspect raised the bat inside the bank and Detective Camacho quickly reacted.

“Thank you, Detective Camacho, for protecting from harm, every individual who was inside that bank when the bat wielding man entered in a threatening manner,” said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona.  “It takes courage, strength and training to solely intervene like that.   We are proud of your actions to protect others and proud of your work at the California Department of Insurance.  You make CSLEA and CACI leadership and membership proud.”