Seven officers, acting on instinct, prevented a life-threatening situation for an unresponsive man in a burning vehicle
WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 22, 2022) – The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) today announced Sergeant Thomas Pritchett, Corporal Marshall Herron, Officer Jon Morrison, Officer Raul Pedraza, Officer Josue Pena, Officer Kyle Carter, and Officer Tyrone Morris of the Cedar Hill (TX) Police Department as the Officers of the Month for October 2022. This group of officers were selected for the honor after rescuing an unresponsive driver from a vehicle that contained multiple firearms and ammunition in the back seat.
In the early morning of September 3, 2022, Sergeant Pritchett, Corporal Herron and Officers Morrison, Pedraza, Pena, Morris, and Carter responded to a major accident in Cedar Hill. The officers were informed by dispatch that the accident included a vehicle that drove off the road and was engulfed in flames. Upon arrival, the officers found a black SUV on its side in the tree line 50 feet off the roadway. The front of the vehicle was on fire and without hesitation, officers approached and observed a driver inside the front seat, not moving. With the vehicle on its side, and the flames encroaching, Officers Morrison and Pedraza broke the glass of the sunroof and were able to pull the unresponsive driver out of the vehicle. The other officers were able to bring the driver to the roadway where medics treated him for his injuries. While officers were pulling the driver out of the vehicle, multiple firearms were observed inside the vehicle and rounds could be heard going off as the fire moved closer.
The Cedar Hill Fire Department arrived and was able to put out the fire before it spread any further. While the medics were treating the driver, he stated that he was unable to feel anything from his chest down, and was later transported to Methodist Family Health Center.
“The quick response and recognition of the severity of the situation, and immediate action to pull the driver from the wreck was outstanding work,” said Marcia Ferranto, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “This was a team effort where failure to act or delay in action could have led to a much different outcome. We are proud to honor these seven officers as Octobers’ Officers of the Month for 2022.”
Based on the extraordinary measures taken by the officers on the scene, Sgt. Pritchett, Cpl. Herron, and officers Morrison, Pedraza, Pena, Carter, and Morris were awarded the Life Saving Award.
The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all of the 23,229 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.
Mike Twiname
[email protected]
667-678-0426