2000 VACP Awards for Valor

The VACP Award for Valor recognizes a law enforcement officer who, in the line of duty, performs an act of extraordinary heroism while engaged with an adversary at imminent personal risk. The following awards were presented at the VACP Annual Conference in August, 2000:

2000 Award for Valor Recipients

Colonial Heights Police Department
Detective Mike Elmore
Detective Keith Early

On September 16, 1999, Detective Mike Elmore and Keith Early were working to save the City of Colonial Heights from devastating Hurricane Floyd. At approximately 1246 hours, Detective Elmore, while in an unmarked detective vehicle, noticed a subject running through a parking lot of a shopping center. Detective Elmore's attention focused on the subject as he got into a vehicle and left the shopping area at a high rate of speed. Detective Elmore followed the vehicle at which time he heard police dispatch give out a call of a armed robbery that may be in progress. It was at this time that Detective Elmore advised headquarters that he was behind the alleged suspect's vehicle. Detective Early then radioed that he was near the location of where the robbery occurred.

Detective Elmore radioed to the surrounding police units that the vehicle was occupied by two subjects, and gave the location of where the suspect's vehicle was traveling. Detective Elmore, feeling that other police units were near, activated his emergency equipment and the suspect's vehicle came to a stop. Immediately, the passenger exited the vehicle with a automatic weapon in hand and started walking back towards Detective Elmore's car. Aiming directly at Detective Elmore, the suspect shot three times. All three bullets struck Detective Elmore's front windshield barely missing him all three times. Detective Elmore narrowly escaped with his life. In a life-saving maneuver, he removed his vehicle from the scene and radioed the events to other police units, stating the suspect was running with a weapon still in his possession.

It was at this time that Detective Early began a foot chase of the suspect. Detective Early, at great personal risk, chased the armed suspect into a wooded area and was able to physically subdue and take the suspect into custody.

Hampton Police Division
Corporal Curtis L. Coles

On a peaceful Sunday afternoon in October 1999, Corporal Curtis L. Coles was returning home from the store — off-duty at the time and driving his personal vehicle. He observed what appeared to be an automobile accident and made a U-turn to offer assistance. As he slowed to complete the turn, two subjects jumped out from behind some shrubbery and ran up to his car. When just a few feet away, one of the agitated subjects pointed a gun directly at Det. Coles' head and demanded that he get out of the vehicle. (As it turned out, the agitated subjects were fleeing the scene of a crime.) With only seconds to react, Det. Coles grabbed for his service pistol, identified himself as a police officer, and fired two rounds at point blank range, striking the gunman in the head and leg. (The second subject fled the scene but was apprehended a short time later.) At this point, Det. Coles learned that the vehicle that had attracted his attention in the first place contained a murder victim and the subjects who had attempted to hijack his car were killers.

Given the desperate actions of the fleeing felons, there is no doubt that Det. Coles' quick thinking precluded the imminent threat of death or serious injury to himself and very possibly others, as well.

Hampton Police Division
Patrolman John T. Slayton

On Wednesday, July 28, 1999, Officer John T. Slayton was one of several officers who responded to an address in the Wythe area of the City of Hampton regarding a report that a man was threatening to commit suicide. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers located the subject in an alleyway and discovered that the subject was armed with a handgun. They established a perimeter and attempted to negotiate with the subject, but to no avail. The subject fired one shot from his handgun, striking the ground. He continued to threaten suicide and started to approach Officer Slayton's position. Officer Slayton issued several verbal commands to stop but the subject ignored him and continued to advance, weapon in hand. Fearing for his own safety and the safety of his fellow officers, Officer Slayton fired four rounds, striking the subject in the leg. First aid was administered at the scene and the subject was transported to the hospital where he recovered from his wounds.

Though confronted by an armed adversary, Officer Slayton remained calm and focused throughout. His decisive action and extraordinary courage prevented any further injury to the subject and/or to his fellow officers.

Lynchburg Police Department
Officer Daniel W. Black

On Saturday, April 17, 1999 at approximately 8:11PM, Officer D.W. Black and OfficerB.J. Gauthier with the Narcotics Strike Force initiated a traffic stop for a child restraint violation on Top Ridge Road, a known location for the consumption of narcotics and alcohol.

During the course of the stop, it was determined that the operator of the vehicle was an "Habitual Offender." Officer Black also detected and odor of alcohol about his person. Officer Black requested numerous times for the operator to step out of the vehicle, but they refused. When Officer Black attempted to physically remove them from the vehicle, the operator reached to the right side of the seat and grabbed a handgun.

Officer Black, without regard for his own safety, immediately lunged for the subject and the weapon. A heated struggle ensued between Officer Black and the vehicle operator. Officer Black fell on top of the subject and the two continued to struggle for control of the weapon. During the course of the struggle, the operator was able to grasp the handgun in his right hand and fire the weapon twice. The operator sustained one gunshot wound to the right side of the head. Because of Officer Black's immediate actions, neither he nor his back-up officer were injured in this altercation. Officer Black, although faced with a dangerous and highly stressful situation, was able to maintain his composure and direct assisting officers in and immediately call for emergency medical services.

It was later learned that the suspect had a history of violence towards himself and law enforcement — he had threatened suicide on several occasions and had once barricaded himself from police.

Prince William County Police Department
Officer William S. Kiefer

On April 6, 1999, Officer William S. Kiefer was dispatched to the Prince William County Police Association Hall in Manassas, Virginia to handle a report of a hit-and-run accident. Upon arrival, he met with the citizen and obtained sufficient information to conduct an investigation and to document the incident. The citizen then asked to use the restroom facilities. Officer Kiefer escorted the citizen inside the hall and entered into the restroom with the citizen. At the time, there were approximately ten other people inside the facility, several of whom were off-duty police officers.

As Officer Kiefer was using the facilities, the subject approached him from behind and placed a handgun to the officer's head. The subject stated, "I'm going to kill you!" Officer Kiefer was shocked that this non-confrontational encounter had instantly erupted into a life-threatening situation. The officer's quick response and reliance on training resulted in him grabbing the gun and the subject's hand. A struggle ensued. During the altercation, the assailant attempted to gain control of the officer's service weapon. Again, Officer Kiefer fought to maintain control of his weapon and was able to momentarily break free from his attacker. At that moment, he fired one shot, killing his assailant.

Officer Kiefer received numerous injuries during this violent encounter, to include abrasions, contusions, a fractured right hand and a dislocated thumb. It was approximately two months before he was able to return to full duty.

This incident was one of the most dangerous and alarming situations any police officer could encounter. A seemingly routine encounter with an apparently normal citizen erupted into a life-or-death battle with a mentally deranged suspect. Officer Kiefer' s courageous actions resulted in saving his own life and possibly the lives of others present at the facility.

Officer Kiefer's courage and quick action clearly demonstrates that his actions were above and beyond the "normal" tour of duty. His perseverance, tenacity, and survivalist instincts offer an excellent example for others to follow when placed in dangerous situations.

South Boston Police Department
Officer Timothy M. VanAernem

On September 30, 1999 at 12:21 pm, Officer Tim VanAernem was dispatched to a bank robbery of One Valley Bank on Wilborn Avenue in South Boston. As Officer VanAernem was approaching the area, he spotted the robber running from the bank. Officer VanAernem immediately called for backup, exited his cruiser, and gave chase on foot. Officer VanAernem had chased the robber for 1-and-1/2 blocks when the robber turned and pointed a revolver at the officer.

Face to face with weapons drawn, Officer VanAernem shoved his service weapon into the chest of the bandit while managing to grab the revolver that was pointed directly at him. Officer VanAernem continued to struggle with the robber on the ground. Additional officers arrived on the scene and assisted in the arrest. It was later learned that the bandit's revolver was a .38 calibre snub nose, fully loaded.

If it had not been for the swift actions of Officer VanAernem, this incident could have become tragic. Officer VanAernem is to be congratulated for a job well done.

Virginia State Police
Trooper Michael S. McGee

On April 8, 1999, Trooper Michael S. McGee responded to another trooper's call for assistance with a vehicle he had stopped and subsequently suspected that the passenger was in possession of narcotics and possibly weapons. Trooper McGee arrived just as the other trooper told the passenger he was under arrest, when the man pulled a gun from his waistband and began running from the scene.

Trooper McGee gave chase and ordered the suspect to stop. The suspect drew his weapon and began firing at Trooper McGee. Trooper McGee returned fire but did not strike the suspect. He continued to order the man to stop and the man continued shooting. Trooper McGee fired again striking the subject, who then complied with the order to throw his gun down.

After the subject was secured, Trooper McGee informed the other trooper that he had been struck in the chest area during the first volley of fire. His protective vest prevented a potentially fatal injury.

Trooper McGee went above and beyond the call of duty in jeopardizing his own life in continuing to pursue a felon that had already shot him.

Virginia State Police
Sergeant Lawrence W. Findley
Trooper Jeffery H. Rasnick

At 3:30 a.m. Oct. 10, 1999, Virginia State Police in Division VI, Salem, received information that Terry Leon Boyd, suspect in a double homicide in Washington D.C., was believed to be in the Roanoke Valley of Virginia. The evening before, America's Most Wanted television show had highlighted information about Boyd.

Boyd was a suspect in the strangulation death of his 65-year-old grandmother who had been suffering with a heart condition and cancer. He also was charged with the murder and rape of his grandmother's 53-year-old caregiver.

On the afternoon of Oct. 10, state police dispatchers took a call about a vehicle crash on the exit 141 ramp of southbound 1-81 in Roanoke County. Realizing that the descriptions of the vehicle and driver matched information about Boyd, the information was relayed to Sgt. Lawrence W. Findley and Trooper Jeffery H. Rasnick, who responded to the call in separate vehicles.

On arrival, they observed that citizens driving three vehicles had stopped to assist Boyd. Boyd was accompanying one couple back to their car, where their two small children were waiting; and the family was preparing to take Boyd to a telephone. Although the wife noticed a gun under Boyd's shirt, she was reluctant to say anything for fear of Boyd's reaction.

Both Sgt. Findley and Trooper Rasnick leveled their firearms at Boyd and announced to the couple that Boyd might be armed. The couple ran for their car and Boyd ran for his. When Boyd didn't leave his vehicle as ordered, the officers approached his vehicle and found that he had shot himself in the head with a 9 mm handgun. A rescue squad was called and Boyd was taken to a hospital for treatment. Later he was moved to a local jail before being transferred to Washington, D.C. to stand trial in the double homicide.

Those investigating the double homicide are confident that Boyd would have killed the family trying to assist him since he had killed his own grandmother and her caregiver.

Had it not been for the expeditious and prompt response of Sgt. Findley and Trooper Rasnick and their deliberate and forceful actions, there is no doubt there would have been another tragedy for the citizens, responding officers and any citizen or officer who would have come in contact with Boyd. Their actions reflect the highest degree of professionalism and commitment to the goal of making our communities as safe as possible for the people of the Commonwealth. 

Winchester Police Department
Sergeant Ricky L. Timbrook (Posthumously)

On October 29, 1999 at 11:49 PM, Winchester Police Sergeant Ricky Lee Timbrook was assisting officers of the Virginia Department of Probation and Parole who were attempting to execute a parole violation warrant. When the officers approached a person they believed to be the parole violator, the person ran and Sergeant Timbrook pursued him on foot. The foot pursuit continued for about two blocks, at which time the subject ran between two houses.

Sergeant Timbrook courageously continued the foot pursuit until the subject stopped abruptly, turned, and shot Sgt. Timbrook in the head at a distance estimated to be only 6 to 18 inches. Sergeant Timbrook was killed instantly. The subject was subsequently apprehended and is awaiting trial for capital murder of a police officer and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.

The actions of Sergeant Timbrook that night were courageous and brave, as he did not allow darkness and fear to dissuade him from performing his sworn law enforcement duties.