A police officer credited with saving an elderly man in a burning apartment building last year was awarded Wednesday with the Honolulu Police Department’s Bronze Medal of Valor.

Patrol officer John Rabago, 35, ran to the second-story unit of the Piikoi Street walk-up in the middle of the fire, amid burning embers, to alert the man.

The Nov. 11 fire was only three to five feet from his apartment when Rabago alerted him.

"Apparently, he was about ready to take a shower and didn’t know the building was on fire," said Rabago, who is approaching his 10th year as an HPD officer. "Fortunately I yelled loud enough several times."

The bronze medal is HPD’s third highest award.

Five other officers were recognized with Certificates of Merit for helping evacuate residents that day: Sgt. Jason Kimura and officers Thomas Dumaoal, James Quinones, Kyle Suemori and Reginald Ramones.

Officer Richard Townsend, 39, a solo bike officer, received a Certificate of Merit for performing CPR on a woman who crashed on H-1 freeway late last year.

Darl Hunt, 64, said she was driving home from the airport, when she had a heart attack that made her crash her vehicle. She had no pulse when Townsend arrived and began CPR.

"I just did what we were trained to do," said Townsend, an eight-year HPD veteran. 

"He gave me my life back," said Hunt, now 60. "It’s so critical, the few minutes you where the brain doesn’t get any oxygen. If this man wasn’t there when he was, I wouldn’t be here."

Hunt’s son, Jeffrey, was a police officer on Maui. He died of a heart attack in 2007.

Other officers and civilians recognized by Police Chief Louis Kealoha last week:

>> Sgt. Duane Samson, employee of the quarter, for coordinating a major cleanup at Kaupo Beach, as well as anti-bullying, drug and alcohol prevention, and Read Aloud America programs in schools.

>> The East Honolulu Crime Reduction Unit, unit of the quarter, for its recovery of more than 600 pounds of fireworks Dec. 30-31. They are Sgt. Stuart Yano, and officers Nicholas Akaka, Thomas Chang, Stephen Forman, Keoni Hong, Robert Loomis, Michael Mahi and Nathan Suzuki.

>> James Wong, Civilian Certificate of Merit, for physically restraining a man attempting to jump off an H-1 pedestrian overpass.

>> Officer Ashley Stibbard, Certificate of Merit, for spotting a fire, alerting residents and using a garden hose to fight the flames.

>> Officer Pedro Rodriguez, Certificate of Merit, for performing CPR on a woman who collapsed and was unconscious on a city bus.

>> Kenneth Taipin Jr., a Department of Defense police officer, Civilian Certificate of Merit, for helping arrest a suspect for theft and assault.

>> Irving Wong, Civilian Certificate of Merit, for helping solve several bank robberies.

>> Officer Lovinna Kaniho, Certificate of Merit, for performing CPR on a woman who had choked on food and was unconscious.

>> Apelu Ekeroma and Alberto Martinez, Civilian Certificates of Merit, for stopping a man from jumping from a high-rise apartment.

>> Clayton Nakasone, a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier, and Kikue Takagi, Letters of Appreciation, for finding and helping an elderly woman who was severely injured and unable to call for help.