The Palm Desert Chamber of Commerce presents the Annual Peace Officer and Public Safety Awards Luncheon held on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. 

The Medal of Valor Nominees for Palm Springs Police Department are:

Officer William Hutchinson and Officer Gerald Bucklin.

On October 21, 2008, in the early morning hours, members of the Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) were dispatched to an attempted home invasion robbery with three armed suspects. The 911 caller believed the suspects actually fired one round at him through the kitchen window. When the officers arrived, they learned that three suspects armed with handguns had attempted to kick in the victim’s front door and pointed handguns at the victim through the kitchen window and then fled on foot. While officers were investigating the first call, another 911 call came in from down the street. The caller reported that three males were trying to get into her home. Officers were immediately redirected to this location. Officer checked the second residence but the suspects had fled once again.

Several PSPD officers immediately developed a plan to utilize a police canine to track the suspects from the rear of the residences to see if the suspects had gained entry to a residence from a back door. A PSPD canine honed in on a scent and directed officers to the rear of a residence a few house away from the second caller. There the officers discovered a rear slider open, lights on and three males wearing dark clothing pointing a handgun at the victim. The victim was on his knees in his kitchen. The officers were able to see the suspects aggressively striking the victim over the head with a hammer. Officers could hear the victim pleading with the suspects to not hurt him and to take his property and leave.

Officer Hutchinson immediately advised dispatch of the home invasion robbery he was witnessing and coordinated an immediate perimeter with arriving officers and those already on scene. Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin remained at the rear of the residence preparing to enter and rescue the victim inside the residence.

One of the suspects suddenly exited the front door to the residence with the victim’s car keys. As he exited he was immediately confronted by several PSPD officers. The suspect was uncooperative, aggressive and did not comply with officers commands. He was immediately tasered and detained in handcuffs.

Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin, at the rear of the residence, could hear the commotion at the front and prepared for an immediate armed confrontation with the remaining suspects. The remaining two suspects apparently heard the confrontation with police at the front of the residence and fled out the back door. The first suspect to exit held a handgun in his hand as he ran toward Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin.

As the first suspect exited the house, Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin immediately confronted him and ordered him to drop his weapon. The suspect refused and turned toward the officers pointing the handgun at them. Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin feared for their lives, the lives of fellow officers and the life of the victim inside the residence. Both officers immediately fired their weapons at the armed suspect. The suspect dropped the handgun and fell to the ground. Almost immediately after engaging the first suspect, the second suspect appeared in the rear yard from the residence. The suspect saw the officers and realized what had happened. He too refused to cooperate or drop what appeared to be a weapon in his hand and started to run back into the residence.

Officers Hutchinson and Bucklin were once again placed in harm’s way and were in fear for their lives, their partner’s lives and the victim’s life should this suspect get back inside. They knew they could not allow the suspect to re-enter the residence, take the victim hostage or harm the victim in any way, and immediately engaged the suspect. Both officers fired their weapons, striking the suspect who immediately fell to the ground.

All three suspects were treated for their injuries and arrested for robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment and several other felony charges and are currently in custody awaiting trial.