The Bulletin Notes.

Law enforcement officers are challenged daily in the performance of their duties; they face each challenge freely and unselfishly while answering the call to duty. In certain instances, their actions warrant special attention from their respective departments. The Bulletin also wants to recognize those situations that transcend the normal rigors of the law enforcement profession.

Early one morning, a domestic dispute caused a mother and her children to flee their apartment. The woman had been beaten and her husband, who claimed to have a 9mm handgun, had barricaded himself inside the apartment. Officer Steven Blackburn of the New Bedford, Massachusetts, Police Department was working as a dispatcher and maintained telephone contact with the man until Lieutenant Paul Desrosiers arrived on the scene. The suspect was threatening suicide and attempting to force the police to shoot him. Officer Blackburn's calming influence laid the foundation for Lieutenant Desrosiers to enter the conversation. Lieutenant Desrosiers talked with the man, gradually reducing his anger and frustration. After 5 hours of intense negotiations, the man agreed to surrender, but only to Lieutenant Desrosiers. Officer Blackburn, whose shift as dispatcher had ended, arrived at the scene and helped Lieutenant Desrosiers convince the suspect to throw his gun out of the window. Once the weapon was outside the apartment, Lieutenant Desrosiers and Officer Blackburn, along with a Special Reaction Team, entered the apartment and placed the suspect under arrest. The diligence and professionalism of Lieutenant Desrosiers and Officer Blackburn diffused a dangerous situation without the use of force and prevented possible injury to or death of the suspect.

While on patrol, Officer R. J. Chenowith of the Greenville, South Carolina, Police Department observed heavy smoke coming from a nearby house. Flames were visible, and neighbors informed Officer Chenowith that the elderly resident was still inside. Officer Chenowith ran to the rear of the house and forced entry. He searched the home until he found the 85-year-old resident, who was hearing impaired, asleep in his bed with the television on. Officer Chenowith woke the resident and escorted him to safety. If not for Officer Chenowith's alertness to duty and courageous efforts, the resident likely would have perished in the house fire.