Henderson police honor valor

When Henderson police officers Jeb Bozarth and Randy Dotson arrived at St. Rose Dominican Hospital's Siena campus the morning of March 12, all they knew was that a gunman was in the emergency room.

They joined two other officers in escorting patients out of the room, then began to look for 48-year-old Charles Bradley Campbell.

They were in an unfamiliar environment, their guns drawn, and they didn't know where Campbell was.

Just minutes before, Campbell had walked in with a gun while wearing a green, military-type jacket. He told a nurse he wanted to die and wanted to donate his organs. Then he waited.

They found him in a cubicle not far from the pediatrics department.

"To me he seemed very at ease," Dotson said.

When the officers found him, they began giving him orders. Campbell didn't say a word.

"He smiled at us and shook his head 'no,'" Dotson said.

"It was odd. Very odd," Bozarth said.

Within seconds, Campbell raised a gun at the officers, and Dotson and Bozarth shot him. Campbell was taken to another part of the hospital for treatment but he died a short time later.

On Thursday, the Henderson Police Department awarded Bozarth, Dotson and fellow officers Tim Donnelly and Justin Kern with a valorous conduct award for their actions.

No bystanders were injured in the incident. Hospital nurse Susan Selthofner and Dr. Kevin Menes were honored for helping escort patients out of the emergency room.

They were among the many recognized by the department for incidents that happened last year.

Officers Robert Blaskie and Jason Malone received a valorous conduct award for an incident on Dec. 10.

Blaskie was on patrol when he saw a burning house and a woman walking into the home. He followed her in and yelled for her to come out, but the dazed woman ignored him.

Blaskie grabbed her by the collar and dragged her out of the burning home. He asked her whether anyone else was inside, and she gave the name and phone number of her son. Officers called the son, who said he was in his bedroom.

Blaskie and Malone crawled back inside the burning house on their hands and knees, calling for the son. They reached the bedroom and found the son wasn't there.

He was in his bedroom at his father's house.

Both officers said they were relieved that he was OK.

Officer Camille Tsitsinakis was recognized for noticing a female passenger in a car mouthing, "Help me," while Tsitsinakis was in her patrol car. The officer pulled the vehicle over and discovered that the woman had been kidnapped by the person driving the car. Police found evidence that the suspect planned to rape and possibly kill her.

Emery and Brenda Childress received a distinguished service award. The couple found burglars in their home and held them at gunpoint until police arrived.

Floyd Wilkins was driving home from work when he stopped and woke a homeowner whose garage was on fire, and then turned a garden hose on the flames. He was among those honored Thursday.

K-9 officer Joe Oberding, who is also the K-9 unit's training coordinator, won officer of the year.