Awards recognize Tulsa police officers as heroes
Several Tulsa police officers were recognized for exceptional service Friday during the agency's annual Tulsa's Heroes awards banquet.
Officials from the Police Department and the Crime Commission honored roughly 45 officers who varied from rookies to seasoned veterans during the ceremony at the Jazz Depot, 111 E. First St.
The Medal of Valor — the top award granted by the Tulsa Police Department — went to Officer Rusty Brown for his role in disarming a man while dodging gunshots. Brown was sent to 1127 E. 49th St. on July 9 on a report that shots were being fired there. When he arrived, two men were fighting for control of a handgun, police said. As Brown got out of his patrol car, one of the men began shooting at him. Unable to find a safe angle to return fire, Brown holstered his pistol and sprinted toward the gunman, police said. With help from a private individual, Brown disarmed the man and restrained him until backup arrived.
A Purple Heart award went to Sgt. Curtis Haley, who was seriously injured when a traffic accident trapped him in a patrol car. The Oct. 13, 1980, crash killed Sgt. Don Byerly.
Haley was in the back seat when a drunken driver rear-ended the cruiser. He suffered severe back injuries and broken ribs, police said. Haley returned to the force after a year of injury leave and has since logged nearly 30 years with the department.
Officer Jared Lindsey was one of a handful of Lifesaving Award recipients for his work during a multicar pileup on an icy bridge Feb. 11. Lindsey leapt head-first from a bridge over the Verdigris River when a tractor-trailer rig jackknifed and crashed into the snarled traffic, police said.
He climbed back onto the road and revived a woman who had stopped breathing, police said.
Format differs from original.
Copyright © 2009, World Publishing Co. All rights reserved
I would like to say that all of the men and women who work in law enforcement are heroes. Congratulations and God bless you for all of the work that you do and for putting your lives on the line everyday.
Posted by: Catherine Doak | March 11, 2009 at 08:18 PM