Local Sergeant Recognized For “Service Above Self”

By MAGGIE MCMURRAY

Moapa Valley Progress

One of Moapa Valley’s finest: a resident Metro officer was honored recently by Rotary Clubs of Southern Nevada at the 15th Annual Safety Officer Award Recognition (SOAR) ceremony.

Sergeant Bret Empey of Logandale was recognized with the award for exemplifying the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” in the area of lifesaving. The ward was presented at a program held on September 12 at the Las Vegas City Hall Council Chambers.
Empey received a plaque commemorating his achievement and also his name on a trophy topped by a beautiful bronze statue of a police officer.

Empey was honored for his actions during an incident that occurred in November of 2015. During the incident, Empey was responding to a rollover accident on I-15. On his way to assist, he witnessed another accident. As traffic was slowing in response to the first accident, the driver of a white van was unable to stop in time and ran into the back of the semi in front of him. This caused the front of the van to buckle and trap the driver. The damage to the front of the van was so great that it caused the van to catch fire with the driver still trapped inside.

Empey attempted to help the driver escape, but the damage to the driver’s side door was so great that Empey could not get it open. Meanwhile, the flames from the engine spread to engulf the whole van. The driver, fearing for his life, was screaming for help.
With a super-human effort, Empey was finally able to wrench open the door and drag the driver to safety.

Empey said that the adrenalin rush from witnessing the accident combined with seeing someone in that much pain; and trying to help them not burn to death; gave him the strength to open the jammed door.
He quickly carried the driver to safety and laid him on the back bed cover of his truck until Mercy Air could arrive and fly the driver to the hospital. The driver suffered third degree burns to his leg, along with several lacerations and abrasions. But thanks to Empey’s decisive action, quick thinking, and willingness to put himself in danger, the driver escaped with his life.

The Rotary SOAR award was begun in 2002 by Captain Bob Wood of the LA County Sheriff’s Department and Janie Lynn, then President of the Sunset Rotary Club. The purpose of the award is “to honor the ordinary officer who day in and day out performs his or her job in an outstanding manner.”

Through the SOAR award program, Rotary honors men and women who are not necessarily “heroes” in the normal sense of the word, but rather “quiet heroes.” or those who go about their job everyday, doing outstanding work and going the extra mile while guarding and protecting the rights and the lives of those they serve.