The West Covina Police Department is pleased to announce that one of its officers was recently awarded the 2012 Inland Empire Spirit of Courage Award. On September 21, 2012, Officer Mike Weathermon received this prestigious award for his bravery and quick thinking when he witnessed a plane in distress that eventually crashed.
Officer Weathermon is assigned as a police helicopter observer. On July 20, 2012, he heard a distress call regarding a plane that was having mechanical problems. Officer Weathermon was in the area and responded. He witnessed a plane piloted by well known radio personality Mike Nolan crash near the Corona Airport. Officer Weathermon quickly responded to the burning wreckage and safely pulled the pilot and a passenger from the plane, and escorted them to safety.
The Inland Empire Burn Institute presented him the 2012 Inland Empire Spirit of Courage Award at their annual banquet held at the Riverside Auditorium and Events Center in Riverside, CA.
For four decades, the Spirit of Courage Award has been given to individuals who have risked their lives in an effort to save another from burn injury or death by fire. The Spirit of Courage Awards Banquet is a service of the Burn Institute. Founded in 1972, one of the institute’s first accomplishments was to support the establishment of the UCSD Regional Burn Center.
