February 1, 2010

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, Officers Matthew Golla and Thomas Pfeiffer of the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, Police Department responded to a structure fire. Upon their arrival and before the fire department came, the officers observed heavy black smoke coming from the buildings and immediately entered, knowing most of the occupants were asleep. Officers Golla and Pfeiffer methodically went door to door alerting the sleeping residents of the fire and evacuating persons safely. Eventually, the fire consumed several buildings in the block. Thanks to the quick, decisive, and courageous actions of Officers Golla and Pfeiffer, 27 people escaped, and no loss of life occurred. 

Officers Matthew Golla and Thomas Pfeiffer of the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Police Department evacuated people safely from a building fire. Golla was a Bulletin Notes recipient in February 2010.

Officer Golla

Officers Matthew Golla and Thomas Pfeiffer of the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania Police Department evacuated people safely from a building fire. Pfeiffer was a Bulletin Notes recipient in February 2010.

Officer Pfeiffer

Officer Jason Culbertson of the Caln Township, Pennsylvania Police Department used his body as a shield to guide two women to safety following an apartment fire. Culbertson was a Bulletin Notes recipient in February 2010.

Officer Culbertson

Officer Jason Culbertson of the Caln Township, Pennsylvania, Police Department was on patrol when he heard a radio call in the neighboring city, which had been experiencing a series of arsons of occupied dwellings. As he was nearby when another one was reported, Officer Culbertson was the first emergency responder on the scene. The outside rear staircase, which served as the only exit from an apartment occupied by two women, was engulfed in flames. Acting quickly, Officer Culbertson grabbed his fire extinguisher and ascended the steps. Using his body as a shield and knocking down the flames with his extinguisher, he guided the two occupants to safety.

The FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin seeks nominations for the Bulletin Notes. Nominations 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, Law Enforcement Communication Unit, Hall of Honor, Quantico, VA 22135.