Local heroes honored in Washington with Medals of Valor
WASHINGTON - Two years after surviving a deadly sniper attack, four members of the Maplewood Fire Department each were awarded the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor this afternoon.
Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Carl Beier, who survived an assault rifle attack three years ago, also was among Medal of Valor winners from around the country in a ceremony featuring Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder.
The Medal of Valor is the highest national award for public safety officers. It is given on rare occasions to those "who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life."
Since 2003, 55 medals have been given out; 14 were awarded today.
"Today is a day for every man and woman in uniform to feel proud of you and, quite frankly, for you to feel proud of yourself," Biden said at the ceremony in an office building adjacent to the White House.
"You guys, really, what always amazes me is how you guys do it like it is part of your DNA. I don't know what you're made of. I think you're all crazy. But God love you for it, risking your life every day," he said.
In the summer of 2008, Lt. William Appel and firefighters Ryan Hummert, Timothy Wisely, Michael Chellis and Andrew Neff showed up in the early morning hours to fight a pick-up truck fire in the 7400 block of Zephyr Avenue.
They quickly came under fire from an unknown location. Maplewood police officer Adam Fite, who also had responded, was struck, as was Hummert, who succumbed to his head wound.
The surviving firefighters, honored today, stayed on the scene until they were removed by a tactical team.
Amid the heroics, Neff dragged Fite to safety and stayed with him until the ambulance arrived, it was noted at the ceremony.
The alleged gunman set his house on fire and killed himself.
Maplewood Fire Chief Terry Merrill nominated the men for the award.
"With the tragedy of that day so great, it is even more important we recognize the exceptional courage and extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind those four men exhibited under the most dire of circumstances," Merrill wrote in an e-mail. "They knowingly risked their lives for Ryan and many others that day. While their incredibly brave efforts could not save Ryan, their actions clearly prevented further tragedy."
Three years ago, Beier responded to a reported domestic dispute in an unincorporated area near Hillsboro. Soon after arriving, shots from an AK-47 rang out. Beier grabbed his shotgun from the trunk and hid behind a tree.
He returned fire and pellets form his shotgun struck the advancing gunman, halting his rampage. The gunman survived.
It was noted during the ceremony that Beier ordered other deputies away from the driveway out of fear that they would be ambushed.
"Deputy Beier, without regard for his own life, stood his ground while under continuous fire, incapacitated an enraged suspect and protected lives."
The winners were given medals and commemorative plaques before posing with Biden and Holder for photos. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, also took part.
"Because of you and your colleagues, I'm optimistic about what we can accomplish in the days ahead," Holder said.
Christine Byers of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.
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