2017 Officer of the Year Chris Duncan Wilkinsburg Police
Below is Officer Duncan's recollection of the events that lead to him being named Officer of the Year
During my time in the academy and years of service as a police officer I have learned to be vigilante. I've learned that in the blink of an eye your fears must be masked with bravery in order to protect the lives of civilians as well as your brothers and sisters in blue. I've heard the stories of officers fortunate enough to have gone their career without discharging their weapons and the tragic ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty. Each day, I put on my vest and lace up my boots without ever thinking this could be my last. On 04/24/2017 at approximately 0525 hours I experienced the fear of this being my last.
On this date my Sargent and I encountered a wanted male inside of McDonalds located on Penn Avenue. We discovered the male had an active warrant for a parole violation stemming from a 1995 murder. County dispatch informed us the male was known to carry fire arms and had a propensity of violence towards police. With this knowledge we agreed to apprehend the male in the lot of the establishment in order to keep the public safe. As the male exited, I approached him in my patrol unit informing him we needed to speak with him. At this time the subject acknowledged our presence, however, he quickly ran to his vehicle in efforts to avoid apprehension. I quickly exited my vehicle and was able to prevent the male from closing his driver's side door as I held it opened. I then ordered the male out of the vehicle while holding onto the door before he agreed to comply. Within seconds, the actor reversed his vehicle forcing me in his direction as he crashed into my patrol unit. I immediately felt pain and discomfort from the crash; however, this had to be my secondary concern as my priority now was the safety of my sergeant and of the public. Seconds later the actor drove forward in an attempt to escape before striking a barrier that separated his vehicle from the glass protecting the front entrance to the business. At this time my sergeant and I drew our fire arms and ordered the male to stop the vehicle stating "We will shoot!" The actor then proceeded to reverse a second time in our direction nearly running both Officers over. It was clear by this point that the actor had no regard for the lives of Officers or the public and therefore I discharged my weapon. One round was fired from my fire arm striking the actor's shoulder before he fled the area in his vehicle. My sergeant and I quickly pursued the actor down Penn Ave., where we discovered his vehicle crashed out and unoccupied. We later discovered the actor lying in a set of bushes suffering from the gunshot wound.
My second call came on 12/05/2017 at 2330 hours. After observing a fellow Officer pursuing a speeding vehicle I quickly responded. Upon arriving to the location of the stopped vehicle I observed my partner ordering the driver back inside of his vehicle. I then repeated the same commands; however, Officers were met with the response of "F*** you, you get back in your cars". Moments later the actor turned away from Officers before returning to his vehicle and reaching inside to grab a shot gun. My partner and I tactically retreated behind my marked Unit while the actor continued aiming the shot gun in our direction. At this time, I quickly peeked around the rear of my unit and observed the actor attempting to clear his weapon.
Within a matter of seconds, I stood up from my position of cover and fired one round hitting the actor and stopping the threat.
Below is Officer Duncan's recollection of the events that lead to him being named Officer of the Year
During my time in the academy and years of service as a police officer I have learned to be vigilante. I've learned that in the blink of an eye your fears must be masked with bravery in order to protect the lives of civilians as well as your brothers and sisters in blue. I've heard the stories of officers fortunate enough to have gone their career without discharging their weapons and the tragic ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty. Each day, I put on my vest and lace up my boots without ever thinking this could be my last. On 04/24/2017 at approximately 0525 hours I experienced the fear of this being my last.
On this date my Sargent and I encountered a wanted male inside of McDonalds located on Penn Avenue. We discovered the male had an active warrant for a parole violation stemming from a 1995 murder. County dispatch informed us the male was known to carry fire arms and had a propensity of violence towards police. With this knowledge we agreed to apprehend the male in the lot of the establishment in order to keep the public safe. As the male exited, I approached him in my patrol unit informing him we needed to speak with him. At this time the subject acknowledged our presence, however, he quickly ran to his vehicle in efforts to avoid apprehension. I quickly exited my vehicle and was able to prevent the male from closing his driver's side door as I held it opened. I then ordered the male out of the vehicle while holding onto the door before he agreed to comply. Within seconds, the actor reversed his vehicle forcing me in his direction as he crashed into my patrol unit. I immediately felt pain and discomfort from the crash; however, this had to be my secondary concern as my priority now was the safety of my sergeant and of the public. Seconds later the actor drove forward in an attempt to escape before striking a barrier that separated his vehicle from the glass protecting the front entrance to the business. At this time my sergeant and I drew our fire arms and ordered the male to stop the vehicle stating "We will shoot!" The actor then proceeded to reverse a second time in our direction nearly running both Officers over. It was clear by this point that the actor had no regard for the lives of Officers or the public and therefore I discharged my weapon. One round was fired from my fire arm striking the actor's shoulder before he fled the area in his vehicle. My sergeant and I quickly pursued the actor down Penn Ave., where we discovered his vehicle crashed out and unoccupied. We later discovered the actor lying in a set of bushes suffering from the gunshot wound.
My second call came on 12/05/2017 at 2330 hours. After observing a fellow Officer pursuing a speeding vehicle I quickly responded. Upon arriving to the location of the stopped vehicle I observed my partner ordering the driver back inside of his vehicle. I then repeated the same commands; however, Officers were met with the response of "F*** you, you get back in your cars". Moments later the actor turned away from Officers before returning to his vehicle and reaching inside to grab a shot gun. My partner and I tactically retreated behind my marked Unit while the actor continued aiming the shot gun in our direction. At this time, I quickly peeked around the rear of my unit and observed the actor attempting to clear his weapon.
Within a matter of seconds, I stood up from my position of cover and fired one round hitting the actor and stopping the threat.
