Nashville city leaders are recognizing six city police officers as heroes after they helped downtown residents evacuate their apartments in the minutes before a motor home exploded early Christmas morning.
While a computerized voice coming from the vehicle repeated a warning that the vehicle was going to explode and that anyone hearing the message should leave, the officers rushed to get people out, reports CNN.
"Officers immediately began knocking on doors and evacuating residents here, not knowing if the bomb was going to detonate immediately or if it was going to go off in the time that it was stated," Metro Nashville Police Chief John Drake said.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the six officers as:
- Officer Brenna Hosey, who has been with the department for 4 years.
- Officer James Luellen, who has been with the department for 3 years.
- Officer Michael Sipos, who has been with the department for 16 months.
- Officer Amanda Topping, who has been with the department for 21 months.
- Officer James Wells, who has been with the department for 21 months.
- Sergeant Timothy Miller, who has been with the department for 11 years.
Officials said that thanks to the officers' bravery and quick work, just three people were injured in the massive blast that shattered windows and damaged several buildings.
"They are heroes, and I am grateful for them and all of Nashville's first responders," Mayor John Cooper said. "They took swift action and directed people away from danger to save lives, even at the time that their own lives were Imperiled."
The civilians that were injured and hospitalized are in stable condition, according to city officials. The blast knocked one officer down and caused hearing loss in another, but none suffered serious injuries, said police spokesman Don Aaron.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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