When law enforcement officers report for duty, they never know what the day may bring. They may help someone involved in a traffic accident, apprehend a dangerous criminal or perform lifesaving procedures during a medical emergency. As ALEA honors eight officers for their actions across Alabama, their stories illustrate how quickly a routine shift can become a fight to save a life.
On Nov. 4, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Secretary Hal Taylor recognized those officers during a ceremony in Montgomery. Their actions ranged from returning fire after being wounded to reviving a father as his young daughter stood nearby.
The honorees represented several ALEA divisions and the FBI’s Mobile Office. They received the Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Awards and Life-Saving Awards.
“Every day, our Troopers and Special Agents leave their families knowing there is inherent risk that comes with wearing the badge, but they answer that call to serve anyway,” Taylor said.
For Troopers William Norris and Leland Hanford, a driver’s license checkpoint in Walker County became a medical emergency in a matter of moments.
During the Aug. 14 encounter, a man with outstanding felony warrants through the Winston County Sheriff’s Office suddenly collapsed and became unresponsive. His young daughter was standing just feet away.
Recognizing signs of a possible opioid overdose, Norris administered Narcan while Hanford retrieved additional medication and helped with the emergency response. After a second dose, the man regained consciousness before paramedics arrived.
Both troopers, who serve in ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division, received Life-Saving Awards.
Another Highway Patrol officer, Senior Trooper Nate Brown, received the same award for his response to a June 29 emergency in Decatur.
Brown was assisting a motorist along U.S. 31 when he discovered a man who was unresponsive and had no detectable pulse. He moved the man away from traffic, requested emergency medical services and began CPR.
An off-duty FBI special agent stopped to help and continued CPR until emergency personnel arrived. ALEA said EMS personnel credited Brown’s quick assessment and intervention with giving the man a chance at survival.
Trooper Kristy Wallace, assigned to ALEA’s Protective Services Division, also received a Life-Saving Award after helping a guest who began choking at the annual GOP Dinner on July 31.
Wallace was working security when the guest lost consciousness and stopped breathing. She delivered back blows and attempted maneuvers to clear his airway. Once the obstruction was cleared and he resumed breathing, Wallace stayed beside him until he regained full consciousness and was breathing normally.
The dangers officers face were especially clear during a Feb. 11 operation in Montgomery that left an ALEA SWAT special agent seriously wounded.
At approximately 5:51 p.m., ALEA SWAT personnel and officers with the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit were working in the 4000 block of Longleaf Drive when the agent was struck multiple times by gunfire.
Despite his injuries, he cleared a weapons malfunction and returned fire while fellow agents engaged the suspect. Other officers immediately provided first aid and helped get him to a local hospital.
The wounded agent received the Purple Heart.
Getting him to medical care also required quick decisions from those around him. ALEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Paul Hayes coordinated an emergency convoy through heavy city traffic to get the wounded agent to the hospital.
Hayes and another MACS special agent received Meritorious Service Awards for their actions during the operation and their help arranging the emergency transport.
An FBI special agent assigned to the Montgomery Resident Agency received the same award for assisting the ALEA teams. FBI Mobile Special Agent in Charge Christopher Flowers accepted it on the agent’s behalf.
“These incidents remind us that law enforcement is about much more than simply enforcing the law. It is about protecting lives, serving others and having the courage to act when someone needs help the most,” Taylor said. “Whether facing gunfire, performing CPR or responding to a medical emergency, these individuals demonstrated the very best of our profession. We are incredibly proud of their actions and grateful for their service.”
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
