The Oakland (CA) Police Officers Association on Wednesday honored three civilian paramedics who came to the aid last month of Officer Hector Chavez, who was being pummeled with punches by a man yelling, "I'm going to kill you."

According to the East Bay Times , Paramedics Heidi Nishimoto, Mason Kinnard, and Kristina Douglas, were each presented the Big Willie Whitley Citizenship Award.

OPOA president Barry Donelan called the three "a team of heroes" who "allowed an Oakland police officer to live another day."

Officer Chavez had responded to reports of an automobile collision. He and the paramedics found the crash, and as the medics began treating the driver — later identified as Sean Miller — the man leaped to his feet and began striking the first responders.

Miller knocked Chavez to the ground, and began his vicious assault. The paramedics were able to overcome the assailant, who was then taken into custody.

Reported car crash on June 6 in the 9800 block of Golf Links Road. A man had crashed his vehicle a few blocks away and had walked to the Gold Links site where he was found by the paramedics and Chavez, who was about to end his overnight shift.