Bulletin Notes
Law enforcement officers are challenged daily in the performance of their duties; they face each encounter 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.
Deputy Zachary Deng
Deputy Johnathon Korte
Deputy Thomas Bartoli
Early one morning, Deputies Zachary Deng, Johnathon Korte, and Thomas Bartoli of the Macomb County, Michigan, Sheriff’s Office responded to a residential fire. Deputy Deng was first to arrive on scene. He could see flames through the closed front entrance window and attempted to kick in the door several times. Upon entering the home, Deputy Deng saw one individual and instructed her to leave immediately. Then, he noticed a male seated in a chair that was engulfed in flames. The deputy tried to smother the fire with a blanket but was unsuccessful.
Soon, Deputies Korte and Bartoli arrived with fire extinguishers in hand and entered the residence, which was filled with heavy black smoke that made breathing difficult. Deputy Deng began sweeping the chair and flames with an extinguisher but had to leave to leave for air. Then, Deputy Korte took over with another extinguisher until it was empty, while a deputy removed the family dog from the home. As fire personnel arrived, Deputy Bartoli extinguished the remaining flames.
Both residents, as well as the deputies, received treatment at local hospitals.
Nominations for the Bulletin Notes should be based on either the rescue of one or more citizens or an arrest(s) made at unusual risk to an officer’s safety. Submissions should include a short write-up, a separate photograph of each nominee, and a letter from the department’s ranking officer endorsing the nomination. Submissions can be emailed to leb@fbi.gov.