Lawmakers recognize Moore police officers for heroic rescue

(OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla.) Moore Police Officers were honored this week with a citation from local lawmakers for their efforts in rescuing a woman from a burning car in the early morning hours of June 11. Reports show the woman was involved in a crash with a suspected drunk driver who was driving at a high rate of speed going the wrong way on Interstate 35. The woman was trapped in her vehicle after it caught fire. Video shows an officer running to the woman’s Silverado and smashing open a window while it burned. Other officers assisted in pulling the woman out of the vehicle and to safety. The first officer on the scene was then shown extinguishing the fire. State Reps. Kevin West and Mark McBride and State Sen. Darrell Weaver, all R-Moore, on Wednesday issued a citation to the officers for their heroic efforts. Officers involved were Sgt. Eric Thomas, Sgt. Gary Wallace, Sgt. Bryce White, Sgt. Jeffrey Shahan, Officers Jeremy Darwent and Sara Gurchinoff, Lt. Kevin Brown and Capt. David Seay. “I am so proud to recognize these officers for their heroic actions,” West said. “The entire Moore Police Department is to be commended as they are so involved in our everyday lives, and the community greatly appreciates their service.” McBride said he, too, is proud of the local officers. “It’s an honor to recognize these officers for this display of bravery,” McBride said. “These and all of our officers willingly put their lives on the line every day to ensure the public stays safe and enjoys their freedoms, and for that we say a heartfelt thank you.” Weaver echoed those sentiments. “We have heroes among us, and we had the opportunity to recognize a few yesterday,” Weaver said. “These are men and women who put their lives on the line to protect us. We can never do enough to express our gratitude to our public safety professionals.” Moore Chief of Police Todd Gibson said, “I am very proud to work with these everyday heroes. Moore is blessed to have them, and I am thankful for the support of our very own legislators, Representative Kevin West, Representative Mark McBride and Senator Darrell Weaver.” PHOTO: From left to right: State Reps. Kevin West and Mark McBride, Moore Police Sgt. Eric Thomas, Staff Sgt. Gary Wallace, Officer Jeremy Darwent, Sgt. Jeffrey Shahan, Officer Sara Gurchinoff, Lt. Kevin Brown, Capt. David Seay, State Sen. Darrell Weaver, Moore City Manager Brooks Mitchell and Moore Chief of Police Todd Gibson