By Senta Scarborough, The Arizona Republic
The quick actions of a five-year veteran and a rookie who braved a burning truck near a gas pump to help rescue two children and their grandfather in July has earned two Mesa police officers an elite award for their bravery.
Officer Keith Befort and Officer Daryl Woodward,who has almost a year of service, have joined the ranks of about a dozen officers since 1989 who have been awarded the Medal of Distinction.
The two Central District patrol officers are also set apart from hundreds of other officers now by wearing a ribbon with a striped pattern of white, red and blue as part of the award.
It’s the second-highest department service award, just below the Medal of Honor. Fewer than six officers have received the top honor.
“Even though there were citizens trying to help, the officers broke out the back window and actually entered the vehicle with the help of the citizens and pulled the children out. The gas pumps could have exploded,” said Lt. Jeff Kirkham, who oversees the merit board.
“They could have assessed the situation and waited for the Fire Department but instead they decided to risk themselves and do what they had to do.”
He added that the officers could have been seriously injured or killed.
“They demonstrated they are committed to the community and people they serve and show they are willing to lay down their lives to protect others and keep people safe,” Kirkham said.
On July 20, Befort and Woodward arrived simultaneously from different directions at a four-vehicle crash near Country Club Drive and McLellan Road. The collision injured six people, wiping out a bus stop, and started a large blaze.
Jerry Bryant, 60, of Payson, was trapped inside with his two grandchildren, Austin, 9, and Kaitlyn, 6. The officers, residents and firefighter were able to quickly get the children out but it took several hours before firefighters were able to safely remove Bryant.
Woodward began breaking out the rear window of a burning truck and Befort got citizens to help him activate the emergency gasoline shut-off valve. Befort then returned to the blazing truck to help Woodward get victims from the vehicle.
“From that time on, the two officers worked side by side, both reaching into the burning truck to lift the two small children up into the arms of the citizens who were also risking their lives to rescue them,” Mesa Sergeant Dave Meicke said.
Befort, who cut his hand on the window’s broken glass, placed a rubber glove on the bleeding hand and continued to work and also helped calm down the children’s trapped grandfather while firefighters tried to remove him from the truck, a supervisor wrote.
Supervisors nominated both Befort and Woodward for the department’s life-saving award.
In a rare move, a nine-member Meritorious Conduct Board, after reviewing police reports and hearing from an officer who witnessed the events, upgraded the award to a Medal of Distinction last month.
The officers have already received the uniform ribbon and certificate at the police chief’s monthly award ceremony. They will receive their medal at the annual awards banquet early next year.