Bulletin Notes

Law enforcement officers are challenged daily in the performance of their duties; they face each challenge freely and unselfishly while answering the call to duty. In certain instances, their actions warrant special attention from their respective departments. The Bulletin also wants to recognize those situations that transcend the normal rigors of the law enforcement profession.

Early one morning, Lieutenant Dave Doebel of the Storm Lake, Iowa, Police Department responded to a one-car accident at an intersection. Upon his arrival, he encountered a vehicle that had left the roadway and struck a power pole, causing the car to catch on fire. Lieutenant Doebel saw that the unconscious driver was trapped inside. Quickly, Lieutenant Doebel used a small fire extinguisher to fight the flames, freed the victim’s trapped legs, and pulled him out of the vehicle to a safe spot. Moments later, the vehicle exploded. Lieutenant Doebel then extinguished the fire burning on the victim’s pants. The critically injured driver survived. 

Lieutenant Dave Doebel of the Storm Lake, Iowa Police Department pulled an unconscious driver from a vehicle that had crashed and was on fire. Doebel was a Bulletin Notes recipient in August 2010.

Lieutenant Doebel


Sergeant William Knight of the Bradenton, Florida Police Department removed a man from a burning mobile home. Knight was a Bulletin Notes recipient in August 2010.

Sergeant Knight

One night, the Bradenton, Florida, Police Department received an emergency call regarding a structure fire. Immediately, Sergeant William Knight responded. Arriving in minutes, he saw a mobile home fully engulfed in flames. As Sergeant Knight exited his vehicle, he saw an adult male, later identified as the lone resident, standing just outside. Upon seeing the officer, the man quickly turned and headed inside, into the flames. Without hesitation, Sergeant Knight entered the home. After locating the individual, Sergeant Knight began pulling him to safety; the resident resisted, broke free, and attempted to run further into the flames. Sergeant Knight followed and forcefully removed the man from the burning residence.


Nominations for the Bulletin Notes should be based on either the rescue of one or more citizens or arrest(s) made at unusual risk to an officer’s safety. Submissions should include a short write-up (maximum of 250 words), a separate photograph of each nominee, and a letter from the department’s ranking officer endorsing the nomination. Submissions should be sent to the Editor, FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA 22135.