Officer Justin Bowman & Officer Brandon Bowman
Chesapeake (VA) Police Department & Virginia Beach (VA) Police Department
Being police officers is just one of the many things the Bowman brothers have in common. The twenty-five-year-old identical twins drive the same make of car, own identical cell phones and despite being in different towns, they live within a mile of each another. While they serve in different law enforcement agencies, perhaps the most significant commonality between the two young men is that at such a young age, they are both heroes; both are lifesavers.
On September 15, 2008, Officer Brandon Bowman of the Virginia Beach Police Department and Officer Justin Bowman of the Chesapeake Police Department met at the border of the two cities for a quick chat. Shortly after arriving, each received dispatch calls from their respective departments regarding an injured person at a nearby intersection. Activating their emergency equipment, the two officers took off in response.
Arriving at the scene, the officers observed two citizens, one of whom was an off-duty nurse, tending to the unresponsive jogger. They were getting the gentleman situated so that they could begin CPR. Thankfully, Officer Brandon Bowman had an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in his cruiser which he retrieved while Officer Justin Bowman provided the nurse with an oral mask and took over performing the chest compressions. Everyone at the scene assumed the worse. There was no pulse — no sign of life.
Working in tandem, Officer Brandon Bowman applied the AED pads to the jogger shocking the victim’s heart in an attempt to restore it to its normal rhythm. Officer Justin Bowman and the nurse resumed CPR procedures immediately each time the AED provided the necessary shock to the man’s heart. The AED analyzed the patient’s condition while CPR continued to be administered. After what seemed like an eternity, the jogger’s breathing and pulse strengthened. The AED machine indicated that no further shocks were necessary and by the time emergency medical personnel arrived, the jogger was breathing on his own. The medical crew took over, loading the man into an ambulance and rushing him to a local hospital.
The citizen “Florence Nightingale,” Kathy Malley, who has 26 years of nursing experience, described the brothers’ actions as “calm, collected and professional” and as “proficient as any medically trained practitioner as I have ever worked with.” “These two young officers should be commended,” she said.
Officer Justin Bowman commented, “What were the chances that both of us would be 30 seconds away from where it happened, have the necessary equipment, remain calm and put into practice what we had been taught?” What made the rescue even more rewarding for the brothers is that they shared that special experience with one another. One of the first people to hear about the twins’ heroic efforts was their biggest fan, one very excited and proud mom.
Both brothers began their law enforcement careers three years ago. Having grown up in Virginia Beach, Officer Brandon Bowman knew its citizens and believed he could best serve in the department of the community that he loved. Having relocated to Chesapeake, Virginia, Officer Justin Bowman chose to the serve with the department in the city in which he now calls home.
Located in the nation’s capital, the NLEOMF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. The NLEOMF Officer of the Month Program, began in September 1996 and recognizes federal, state and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.
The Police Unity Tour is the official sponsor of the Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Program.