Fresno DMV employee receives Medal of Valor

A Fresno man has received the highest honor for public servants in the state of California.

Jose Peñate, a Department of Motor Vehicles employee in Fresno, was awarded the Medal of Valor during a ceremony at the California Highway Patrol Academy in west Sacramento on April 12.

Peñate was recognized because he took immediate action to settle an altercation involving several individuals in the DMV lobby in Fresno, resulting in no injuries to any party.

Peñate’s actions were recognized during the ceremony, which was attended by Gov. Jerry Brown’s Cabinet Secretary, Keely Bosler, three agency secretaries and several department directors.

The award is given to people who demonstrate acts of bravery and heroism in order to save the life of another.

Fifteen other state employees were also given the award.

This story was originally published April 16, 2016 at 3:31 PM with the headline "Fresno DMV employee receives Medal of Valor."