• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
American Police Beat

American Police Beat Magazine

Law Enforcement Publication

  • Home
  • Editor’s Picks
    • The power of teamwork
      Stay awake and alert on the job
      The worst rank in law enforcement
      Firearms maintenance
      Why fries need salt
  • Topics
    • On the Job
      • Wounded Florida deputy leaves hospital after being shot three times...
        Michigan police officer and bystanders hailed as heroes after...
        Florida police officers recount heroic rescue of 3-year-old boy...
        Semi-truck collides with South Dakota police cruiser during winter...
        Florida 9-1-1 dispatcher guides family member through CPR after...
    • Labor
      • LAPD “accidentally” leaks personal information of undercover...
        LAPD union proposes police stop responding to non-emergency calls
        Florida’s recruitment program lures Chicago police officers to the...
        Staffing shortages plague Cleveland police as record number leave the...
        New Orleans interim police chief aims to hire civilians in time for...
    • Tech
      • New Jersey turns to license plate reader technology to address rise...
        One of country’s oldest cold cases solved with DNA from untested...
        Crypto crime investigations
        Austin Police Department launches non-emergency artificial...
        iPhone crash detection feature helps deputies rescue driver from canal
    • Training
      • New N.J. emergency service officers ready to respond in times of...
        Working effectively in low light
        Realism and stress inoculation in training
        Avoiding conflict and escalation
        U.S. trails in police training
    • Policy
      • Wisconsin Assembly votes to require “high-risk” schools to keep...
        Oregon law enforcement and retailers seek to combat organized...
        Utah bill aims to regulate how law enforcement uses genetic genealogy...
        Opposing POVs on permit-less carry
        Ohio bill would lower minimum age to become a police officer to 18 to...
    • Health/Wellness
      • Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
        Expanding your identity
        Nonprofit offers telehealth therapy to upstate New York first...
        A California police department’s new wellness unit aims to improve...
        Massachusetts police department prioritizes officers’ mental health...
    • Community
      • “Tennis brings us all together”: NYPD officers bond with youth...
        First responders share love of reading with children for Read Across...
        Colorado Springs police kick off annual soccer ball giveaway to bond...
        “These are beautiful animals”: Community members gift horses to...
        Central Texas nonprofit to open law enforcement museum in honor of...
    • Offbeat
      • Ohio police rescue man from brutal zebra attack
        Motorist stranded in Oregon wilderness without cell phone reception...
        Cincinnati police work with animal rescuers to capture exotic cat...
        Not UFOs: Police departments across the country receive 9-1-1 calls...
        Texas deputy detains runaway tortoise after “slowest foot...
    • We Remember
      • Uncovering history: Railroad police officer murdered a century ago to...
        New Jersey girl supports first responders through Running 4 Heroes...
        Law enforcement from across the country join seventh annual Fallen...
        Boone County holds fifth annual Jacob Pickett Remembrance Day to...
        Farewell to a “living legend”: Oldest law enforcement officer in...
  • On the Job
    • Wounded Florida deputy leaves hospital after being shot three times...
      Michigan police officer and bystanders hailed as heroes after...
      Florida police officers recount heroic rescue of 3-year-old boy...
      Semi-truck collides with South Dakota police cruiser during winter...
      Florida 9-1-1 dispatcher guides family member through CPR after...
  • Labor
    • LAPD “accidentally” leaks personal information of undercover...
      LAPD union proposes police stop responding to non-emergency calls
      Florida’s recruitment program lures Chicago police officers to the...
      Staffing shortages plague Cleveland police as record number leave the...
      New Orleans interim police chief aims to hire civilians in time for...
  • Tech
    • New Jersey turns to license plate reader technology to address rise...
      One of country’s oldest cold cases solved with DNA from untested...
      Crypto crime investigations
      Austin Police Department launches non-emergency artificial...
      iPhone crash detection feature helps deputies rescue driver from canal
  • Training
    • New N.J. emergency service officers ready to respond in times of...
      Working effectively in low light
      Realism and stress inoculation in training
      Avoiding conflict and escalation
      U.S. trails in police training
  • Policy
    • Wisconsin Assembly votes to require “high-risk” schools to keep...
      Oregon law enforcement and retailers seek to combat organized...
      Utah bill aims to regulate how law enforcement uses genetic genealogy...
      Opposing POVs on permit-less carry
      Ohio bill would lower minimum age to become a police officer to 18 to...
  • Health/Wellness
    • Thinking of pulling the pin on retirement?
      Expanding your identity
      Nonprofit offers telehealth therapy to upstate New York first...
      A California police department’s new wellness unit aims to improve...
      Massachusetts police department prioritizes officers’ mental health...
  • Community
    • “Tennis brings us all together”: NYPD officers bond with youth...
      First responders share love of reading with children for Read Across...
      Colorado Springs police kick off annual soccer ball giveaway to bond...
      “These are beautiful animals”: Community members gift horses to...
      Central Texas nonprofit to open law enforcement museum in honor of...
  • Offbeat
    • Ohio police rescue man from brutal zebra attack
      Motorist stranded in Oregon wilderness without cell phone reception...
      Cincinnati police work with animal rescuers to capture exotic cat...
      Not UFOs: Police departments across the country receive 9-1-1 calls...
      Texas deputy detains runaway tortoise after “slowest foot...
  • We Remember
    • Uncovering history: Railroad police officer murdered a century ago to...
      New Jersey girl supports first responders through Running 4 Heroes...
      Law enforcement from across the country join seventh annual Fallen...
      Boone County holds fifth annual Jacob Pickett Remembrance Day to...
      Farewell to a “living legend”: Oldest law enforcement officer in...
  • Between the Lines
    • The imprisonment of law enforcement technology
      Persecution of the LEO is classic schadenfreude
      The rule of law is worthless without order
      School policing: a paradox of the defund movement
      Defending the honor of the LE profession – finally!
  • About
  • The Magazine
  • Events
  • Partners
  • Products
  • Advertise
  • Contact
Search

Community

Six Michigan officers honored for their bravery

Adam Huntington Published November 18, 2020 @ 12:55 pm PST

The Police Officers Labor Council (POLC) in Michigan recently recognized six officers with 2020 Outstanding Service Awards (OSA) for their heroic efforts that saved lives.

Three of the OSA recipients — Battle Creek Officers Jeffrey Johnson, Benjamin Downey and Ben Shippell — were rewarded as a group for their actions after an arrest went wrong. The officers arrived at a home to issue an arrest for outstanding warrants. After making contact with the suspect who had outstanding warrants, the suspect fled, Officer Johnson pursued, and a fight ensued.

The suspect shot Johnson once in the leg, knocking the officer to the ground. At that point, the suspect stood over him and shot him again in the wrist and chest. Johnson’s vest stopped the bullet to the chest and he returned fire as the suspect fled again.

Officers Downey and Shippell found the seriously wounded Johnson on the ground. Shippell applied a tourniquet to the wound in Johnson’s leg, while Downey kept him engaged and alert. The wound was serious enough that Downey elected not to wait for an ambulance and instead drove him to the hospital himself.

As Johnson received life-saving care, officers from several departments worked together to track down the suspect who had shot him. They found him later that day, and he was arraigned on charges of assault with intent to murder, resisting police causing serious impairment and use of a firearm in commission of a felony.

Johnson, Downey and Shippell were the only officers to be awarded OSAs as a group. The other three were each recognized for their individual life-saving efforts.

Officer Brian Farlin of Flushing Township received his for rescuing a 17-year-old girl who was trapped inside a burning home. Farlin worked with the Flushing fire chief to reach the first-floor roof of the home, where they broke a window through which Farlin was able to successfully pull out the victim. Farlin draped curtains over the window’s broken glass to prevent injury to the victim, but he suffered lacerations and abrasions on his hands and arms in the process.

The fire started because something was left on the stove, and smoke filled the home while the victim gave her dog a bath. Both the girl and the dog were successfully rescued, and the girl was treated and released from the hospital for smoke inhalation.

One of the other recipients of the OSA was Mt. Morris Detective Kevin Mihailoff, who dove into frigid water to rescue a 50-year-old man who was trapped in a vehicle underwater. The vehicle had driven through a guardrail, plunged 20 feet and landed upside down in the water below.

The water was biting cold and murky, making it difficult to locate the driver of the vehicle. Mihailoff dove into the water, entered through the vehicle’s broken rear window, and was able to grab hold of the driver and pull him to safety.

Mihailoff received treatment for exposure on the scene, while the driver was taken by ambulance to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

The final OSA recipient was Thomas Box, a K-9 officer with Wayne State University in Detroit, who stopped a gunman who was shooting at three men after shooting at a fourth victim earlier that evening.

Officer Box responded to the first report of shots being fired, where he learned the suspect had fled on a bicycle. Box stayed on site to gather evidence and speak to the victim. During that conversation, the victim saw the gunman on his bike nearby.

Box called for backup before seeing the gunman pull out a handgun, point it at three men and fire several shots. Box confronted the gunman, drawing his attention while the victims ran for cover. He ordered the suspect to drop his weapon, but he instead pointed his weapon at Box, who shot the suspect.

The wounded suspect fled again on his bike but collapsed shortly after. He ultimately died of his wound, but none of the four victims who had been shot at were hurt.

An investigation by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office cleared Officer Box of any wrongdoing in the death of the suspect, and he was awarded the WSU Police Department’s Medal of Valor and the WSU Police Officer of the Year. He was also awarded the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Medal of Honor, making the OSA the fourth time he’s been honored for his bravery that day.

“You focused the shooter’s attention on you as you yelled for the suspect to stop,” WSU Police Chief Anthony Holt said during the Medal of Valor presentation. “The suspect pointed his weapon at you, and you stopped the threat. Officer Box, you saved several lives that night, including your own.”

American Police Beat congratulates the six officers who were recognized with OSAs for putting themselves on the line to save the lives of others.

“The POLC is extremely proud to represent these brave officers,” POLC Director Rob Figurski said. “Their quick response to potentially deadly situations is a testament to their extraordinary courage and commitment to protecting and serving.”

As seen in the November 2020 issue of American Police Beat magazine.
Don’t miss out on another issue today! Click below:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Categories: Community

Primary Sidebar

Recent Articles

  • Uncovering history: Railroad police officer murdered a century ago to be honored in D.C. memorial thanks to North Carolina museum’s research
  • Wisconsin Assembly votes to require “high-risk” schools to keep armed school resource officers on campus
  • Wounded Florida deputy leaves hospital after being shot three times in ambush
  • Michigan police officer and bystanders hailed as heroes after rescuing victims in fiery car crash
  • LAPD “accidentally” leaks personal information of undercover officers to watch-dog group
  • Florida police officers recount heroic rescue of 3-year-old boy trapped in sinking car
  • Semi-truck collides with South Dakota police cruiser during winter storm
  • Florida 9-1-1 dispatcher guides family member through CPR after toddler almost drowns
  • NYPD officer rappels down skyscraper to save man from jumping to his death
  • New Jersey girl supports first responders through Running 4 Heroes program

Footer

Our Mission
To serve as a trusted voice of the nation’s law enforcement community, providing informative, entertaining and inspiring content on interesting and engaging topics affecting peace officers today.

Contact us: info@apbweb.com | (800) 234-0056.

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Categories

  • Editor’s Picks
  • On the Job
  • Labor
  • Tech
  • Training
  • Policy
  • Health/Wellness
  • Community
  • Offbeat
  • We Remember
  • Jobs and Careers
  • Events

Editor’s Picks

The power of teamwork

The power of teamwork

July 23, 2021

Stay awake and alert on the job

Stay awake and alert on the job

July 20, 2021

The worst rank in law enforcement

The worst rank in law enforcement

July 19, 2021

Firearms maintenance

Firearms maintenance

July 04, 2021

Privacy Policy | Your Privacy Options | Notice at Collection | Copyright © 2023 APB Media, LLC | Website design, development and maintenance by 911MEDIA

Open

Subscribe

Close

Receive the latest news and updates from American Police Beat directly to your inbox!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.