Page 41 - November 2017 Magazine

Police Officer David M. Benitez, Star #12678
Police Officer Juan R. Rivera, Star #17308
Police Officer William F. Murphy, Star #17808
Police Officer Alfonso Herrera, Star #14777
Police Officer Norma I. Vega, Star #15472
Police Officer Linda R. McShane, Star #9375
Police Officer Lisa M. Tyler, Star #8337
Police Officer Eugenio Tirado, Jr., Star #11756
Police Officer Thomas J. Weigand, Star #15958
Sergeant Joseph D. Keeter, Star #2647
On July 12, in the 1st District, Bike
Officers were flagged down by a citizen
who informed them of a suspicious per-
son. Responding Officers, armed with
this information, encountered the sus-
picious person. At this point, the subject
refused to speak to the Officers. Officer
David Benitez ordered the offender to
put his cell phone away and to show his
hands. The offender continued to ignore
the commands. The situation escalated rapidly when the offender reached behind his waist, produced a firearm and fired towards Benitez, hitting him.
Officers Alfonso Herrera and Juan Rivera, along with a wounded Benitez, all discharged their firearms in order to defeat the threat. The assailant was struck several times and fled the scene, but eventually collapsed and died on the scene.
Rivera immediately returned to attend to the wounded Benitez. With- out hesitation, he removed his belt and applied a make-shift tourniquet. Ser- geant Joseph Keeter then applied an actual tourniquet, trained by Lemart, to stop Benitez’s bleeding. Officers Linda McShane, Eugenio Tirado, Lisa Tyler and Thomas Weigand then carried Benitez to the nearest assisting unit.
Special Employment Officers William Murphy and Norma Vega, who were working in the area, responded to the scene and noticed that theirs was the only vehicle that could transport Benitez to the hospital. Immediately they took ac- tion, coordinated with the dispatcher and District personnel and transported Benitez to the hospital.
Tirado was also critical in keeping Benitez conscious and awake.
Had it not been for the coordinated actions of all Officers involved, this inci- dent could have had a very different outcome; however, thanks to the great ef- fort by all, Benitez was transported to the hospital, operated on and is expected to make a full recovery.
It is with great appreciation that the Fraternal Order of Police, Chicago Lodge #7, presents Officer David Benitez with The Award of Valor. Also, with equal appreciation, we present Officers Juan Rivera, William Murphy, Alfonso Herrera, Norma Vega, Linda McShane, Lisa Tyler, Eugenio Tirado, Jr., Thomas Weigand and Sergeant Joseph Keeter with Distinguished Service Awards. d
CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ NOVEMBER 2016 41
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