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Police officers receive 'Meritorious Service Awards'

Sergeant Al Fatute, Officers Kent Arter and Kevin Murray receive awards for bravery

In law enforcement, a pursuit of a suspect vehicle is serious business. It is the stuff of TV newscasts and lawsuits that can make their way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Most pursuits end after a few minutes, and involve criminal acts that more often fall into the realm of foolish rather than dangerous. I am about to describe one that clearly qualified as the latter.

Police Officers Kent Arter (left) and Kevin Murray (right) were honored with Meritorious Service Awards, along with Sergeant Al Fatute.

On December 31, 2006 at 0315 hours the Communications Center announced that a male subject had escaped from a barricaded situation in a marked Warren County Cruiser after exchanging more than 110 shots of gunfire with police officers and he was now believed to be traveling east on E. Foster Maineville Road. His true location, however, was unknown and officers on the scene were unaware of his intended destination. The escape and vehicle theft had occurred only a few minutes prior to the broadcast.

Within a few brief minutes, Officer Murray spotted the suspect and vehicle westbound on State Route 28 at Buckwheat Road. Officer Murray verified the cruiser identification number and by the time he reached Woods Point Drive, Officer Kent Arter and Sergeant Al Fatute had joined Officer Murray in initiating a traffic stop on the vehicle. However he refused to stop and officers quickly found themselves in a pursuit.

The Communication Center provided additional information pertaining to the suspect's description and the fact that he had engaged in a “lengthy exchange of gunfire” with Warren County officers and was now armed with a riffle, shotgun and several handguns.

The suspect fled west on By-Pass 28 and then southbound onto I-275. As the secondary car in the pursuit, Officer Arter assumed responsibility for communicating the details of the chase and the effort to coordinate the placement of stopsticks along the route. After the suspect made a u-turn in Union Township and fled northbound on I-275, stopstcks were successfully deployed near Wards Corner Road by a Loveland police officer. Officer Arter's cruiser was also disabled by the stopsticks, but he was able to continue the short distance until the suspect vehicle stopped near the Montgomery Road exit.

As he stopped on the side of the interstate, the suspect opened the driver side door, put one leg out and the barrel of his rifle was visibly extending through the doorway.

Officer took up defensive positions behind their police cars and waited for the suspect's next move. Without warning, the suspect closed the driver side door and sped off in the crippled cruiser. Officers again gave chase. Due to Officer Arter's cruiser being disabled, he rode with Officer Murray and continued to call the pursuit while Officer Murray focused on driving.

The chase ended as abruptly as it began with the suspect stopping suddenly near the Lincoln Heights exit. Gunfire ensued almost immediately. When the shooting was over, the suspect lay wounded and disarmed on the pavement having been shot in the right thigh by a Blue Ash Police Officer .The incident came to a close with only one minor injury to a Hamilton Township officer, and none to civilians. The wound sustained by the suspect was not life threatening.

In law enforcement we often discuss the dangers of the profession and the risks that officers must take in protecting our communities. Regardless of how we think we may react when and if we're ever faced with a life and death situation, none of us really know until we're put to that test. The officers involved in this incident no longer have to guess. They now know that they will react bravely and with a high level of precision and professionalism.

The residents of Miami Township are blessed to have these brave and dedicated men serving in the ranks of their police department and their actions during the early morning hours of December 31, 2006 shall not go unrecognized.

Sergeant Al Fatute, Officer Kevin Murray and Officer Kent Arter of the Miami Township are hereby awarded the Miami Township Police Department's Meritorious Service Award.