Cedar Rapids Weather
Waterloo Police Officer Awarded Medal of ValorThe Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier
WATERLOO, Iowa - A Waterloo police officer has been awarded a Medal of Valor for his quick actions during a volatile shooting incident in Waterloo July 22.
Daniel Trelka, director of safety services, announced the award to Officer Justin Brandt Monday. “Officer Brandt exhibited an act of exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness, and presence of mind while attempting to save and protect lives. Officer Brandt performed with unusual swiftness without regard for his personal safety and his actions are deemed to be above the call of duty,” Trelka said in giving the award. The incident occurred about 1:35 a.m. July 22 outside Rumors bar at 229 E. Fourth St. in downtown Waterloo. Here is how police said the incident took place: Justin Brandt was on patrol in uniform in a marked Waterloo Police squad car. He had the window down as he patrolled so that he could listen to the activity occurring during his shift. He was stopped at a red light in the area of a bar where numerous people were standing outside. A mere 20 to 30 feet from Brandt, a man armed with a pistol standing on the sidewalk began shooting at another man. Several shots were fired. Brandt exited his squad car, drew his sidearm, closed the distance to the gunman, and ordered the gunman to drop his weapon. The gunman refused. “The scene was loud and chaotic. A man yelled he had been shot. A third party suddenly approached the gunman and punched him in the face,” police said. “The gunman fell to the ground, but retained the pistol. He was in a sitting position with the pistol in his hand. He was still refusing Officer Brandt’s commands to drop the weapon. Brandt kicked the gunman in the back. The pistol fell from the gunman’s hand; Brandt kicked the pistol away and placed the gunman in handcuffs. “At this point, the large crowd began to grow hostile toward the gunman. Brandt picked the gunman up and sprinted him off to his squad car for protection, at the same time giving loud, direct commands to the unruly crowd in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the crime scene.” Police said other officers arrived to assist, secure the scene, and recover the pistol used by the gunman. Brandt had paramedics tend to the medical needs of the injured, including the injured gunman. Trelka said the amount of time from when the first shot was fired until Brandt sprinted the gunman off to his squad car was 51 seconds according to an audio recording of this incident. “This was a highly dynamic, evolving, volatile, and dangerous situation. The totality of the circumstances in this situation warrants the awarding of the Medal of Valor to Officer Justin Brandt,” said Trelka. Most Popular |
What's On KCRG
|
