When Sgt. Paul Henoch and Officer Franci Abraham grabbed their gear the morning of Oct. 8, they were ready for duty. That afternoon, the two UC Davis police officers went above and beyond the call, earning the UC's highest honor -- the Medal of Valor.

Henoch and Abraham received the awards during a ceremony at the Police Building on Dec. 21, marking the first time UC Davis police have been so honored.

While on routine patrol that October day, the two police officers saw a 2001 grey GMC Yukon parked in lot 22 near Regan Hall that had been reported stolen a week earlier. After a brief surveillance, the officers saw a white male get into the car and attempt to drive out of the parking lot around 5 p.m.

The officers drove beside the Yukon, turned on their emergency lights and positioned their patrol vehicle to block the Yukon's exit. They put themselves at risk, knowing full well that if the suspect exited into campus traffic he could put many people in danger.

Blocked in, the suspect then accelerated toward the patrol vehicle crashing into the vehicle's right front fender area and slightly injuring Henoch's arm. Abraham leapt out of the driver's side of the car, drew her firearm and pointed it at the suspect, shouting at him to stop. Henoch forced open the passenger door, drew his weapon and apprehended the suspect along with Abraham.

Vladislav Timoshchik, an 18-year-old freshman, was arrested and later booked at the Yolo County Jail on two felony counts after his arrest at 5 p.m.

"There wasn't really any time for a reaction," Abraham said. "I think I just did my job. The entire event happened very quickly, although during the very stressful part, things were in a bit of a slow motion. What did I learn? I learned that the front grill of a GMC Yukon SUV is very large."

As cited in the UC policy manual, the Medal of Valor is awarded when a "hazardous act was performed by an employee at the risk of the employee's life" and it "went above and beyond the call of duty."

Chancellor Larry Vanderhoef said Henoch and Abraham demonstrated "extraordinary courage, judgment and coolness under pressure. We're very proud of you -- and grateful that you're here," Vanderhoef said. "The campus couldn't be in better hands."

When Police Chief Calvin Handy placed the gold awards around the officers' necks, he noted the rarity of the honors. "They are not given out lightly and only then under the greatest scrutiny and review."

Handy told Abraham, who was only four weeks on the job when the incident occurred, "you were tested under fire and you performed outstandingly." Of Henoch, Handy said he had "always been impressed with Henoch's professionalism." He is fully recovered from his arm injury.

Campus officials report that Timoshchik is out on bail and is no longer a student.

Stan Nosek, vice chancellor for administration, said he was touched by a recent e-mail reminding him that each day police officers put their lives on the line for the public. "And they act with the greatest professionalism."