Members of Douglas County IMPACT Team

Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, South Metro Fire Rescue, Castle Rock (CO) Police Department, Parker (CO) Police Department

Washington, DC—The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has selected members of the Douglas County (CO) IMPACT Team, a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team, as the recipients of its Officer of the Month Award for April 2017.
The awarded members are Detectives Daniel Brite and Joseph Pollack and Corporal Brian Rademacher, of Douglas County Sheriff’s Department, SWAT Medic Glen Maxson, of South Metro Fire Rescue, Detective Mark Galvan, of the Castle Rock (CO) Police Department, and Police Officer Ronnie Dorrell, of the Parker (CO) Police Department.
On September 2, 2016, authorities in Douglas County responded to a call for a man threatening suicide who was drunk and armed with a handgun and AK-47. When it was discovered the suspect was loading weapons and ammunition onto an RV, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies set up a perimeter around his property, which was near the Parker Adventist Hospital and a middle school that was close to dismissal. Parents of the students were already lined up for pick-up when the suspect opened fire from his property.
The Douglas County IMPACT Team was activated and Detectives Daniel Brite, Mark Galvan and Joseph Pollack, Corporal Brian Rademacher and SWAT Medic Glen Maxson were the first to arrive at the roadblock. The suspect started driving the RV toward the middle school before seeing the blocked roadways and then drove back to his property. He was followed by members of the IMPACT Team to prevent him from going into his home or leaving the property and endangering the community.
As they approached the RV on foot, the suspect opened fire. Forced to leave his cover to get a better view of the situation, Detective Brite took a shot from the AK-47 to his upper chest above his ballistic vest. According to a deputy on the perimeter, although shot, Detective Brite continued to fire at the suspect until he lost consciousness.
SWAT Medic Maxson heard the gunfire and ran toward the property. Detective Rademacher provided cover for Maxson so he could start giving Detective Brite medical treatment and was able to hit the suspect, who then started driving the RV toward Parker Advent Hospital. Detectives Galvan and Pollack drove Detective Brite to the hospital, while Medic Maxson continued providing medical support. Due to the swift actions of the officers, Detective Brite made it to the hospital within minutes of getting shot.
The suspect drove through a field toward the hospital, crashing nearby and began firing at the building and people in a parking lot. Officer Dorrell approached the RV and took a single shot at the suspect, killing him.
Detective Brite suffered internal injuries and his heart stopped twice, once on the way to the hospital and again on the operating table. Doctors had given him a one percent chance of surviving the gunshot, but he survived the lengthy surgery and spent five weeks in critical care before being transferred to a rehabilitation facility. He is currently paralyzed from the waist down but is hopeful that he will walk again.
“On September 2, Detectives Brite, Rademacher, Galvan and Pollack [as well as Medic Maxson and Officer Dorrell] made a sacrifice for their community that cannot be repaid,” Douglas County Sheriff’s Officer Crime Analyst Michele Kennedy said. “They risked their lives for the students and parents at the middle school, for the citizens near the hospital and for the Douglas community as a whole.”
“These six officers showed remarkable bravery in eliminating this threat to their community,” Memorial Fund President and CEO Craig W. Floyd said. “Their service and sacrifice has earned them the Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Award for April 2017.”
Located in the nation’s capital, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. The Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Award Program began in 1996 and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.
These members of Douglas County IMPACT Team, along with the other Officer of the Month Award recipients for 2017, will be honored during National Police Week at a special awards ceremony in Washington, DC, in May 2018.

The Police Unity Tour is the official sponsor of the Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Program.