Citation of merit, 1954

Supplementary material reads: "Los Angeles Police Department, Public Information Division, MIchigan 5211 - Ext. 2903. June 8, 1954. Fact sheet. Today, Chief W.H. Parker will award a citation of merit to Mr. John Franklin Davis for heroic service and awareness of civic responsibility when at great personal risk, he exposed himself to repeated gunfire while pursuing and aiding in the apprehension of three dangerous robbery suspects on April 23, 1954. At 9:30 p.m. on April 23, 1954, Mr. Davis, while in a service station in West Los Angeles, heard a woman's screams and shots being fired. A moment later, Mr. Davis saw an automobile drive at a fast rate of speed through an alley and heard someone shout "Holdup!". Mr. Davis pursued the suspects and attempted to crash his car into the speeding vehicle. The suspects began firing at Mr. Davis and, despite the hail of bullets, he succeeded in ramming the suspects' car at Sepulveda Boulevard and Charnock Road. Two suspects leaped from the get-away car and ran through a field. At this time, a Culver City Police officer, William R. Bernard, joined the chase. As they cornered one of the suspects, they observed that he was disguised as a uniformed police officer. This suspect, at a distance of 15 feet, again opened fire at Mr. Davis. Through the courageous efforts of Mr. Davis, the two suspects, Richard and Raymond Vitolo, and their father, Dominic Vitolo, were apprehended".

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