The honors came during city council’s meeting Tuesday night.

“You don’t know how much help these guys are,” said Craig Pippen, a Halifax County EMT, who recommended the officers and firefighters receive commendations. “They help us drive, find victims, hold hands. These guys go above and beyond.”

Pippen was referring to a shooting which occurred the morning of June 23 at West Thirteenth and Franklin streets.

In an email to Roanoke Rapids police Captain Andy Bryant, Pippen commended Sergeant Terrance Tyler, Officer Ryan Cross and Master Adam Salmon and firefighters Richard Cook, Bryan Hollowell, Carter Rowland, Ramah Long and Sean Marshall.

“They did their job by helping render first aid to the shooting victim.”

The officers, he said, “were very valuable in getting equipment, shining lights and helping us find where all the victim was shot and treating the wounds.”

Before arrival of EMS, Cross applied a pressure dressing and was holding pressure on a wound to the abdomen where the victim was bleeding. “I applaud their efforts in rendering aid to help us stabilize and save the life of this citizen,” Pippen wrote. “Your officers and the city firemen that responded were vital in providing the care needed to hopefully keep this case from turning into a murder investigation. Please let the officers know that we really appreciate their efforts on this call as well as all of the daily calls we run with them. Their actions reflect highly on their commitment to the citizens of the city of Roanoke Rapids that they protect and serve.”

Roanoke Rapids police Chief Chuck Hasty said the victim is out of the hospital and recovering.

Roanoke Rapids fire Chief Stacy Coggins said, “We don’t do this to get a pat on the back but in a day when we have people who are ungrateful it’s always good to be appreciated.”

Hasty said, “When we tell them we are going to recognize them the guys always say we’re just doing our job.”

In his email to Coggins, Pippen wrote, Cook, a battalion chief, Hollowell, a lieutenant, Long, an engineer, and Marshall, a firefighter, “were a great help in providing aid, equipment as well as helping us to provide stabilization and transport to the victim.”

Pippen wrote: “I strongly feel that your efforts in conjunction with the efforts of the RRPD and Halifax EMS made the difference.”

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Officer Daniel Hundley

Meanwhile, Master Officer J.E. Benthall recognized Officer Daniel Hundley for helping two small children by buying them diapers out of his own wallet.

The humanitarian act occurred on June 8 when Hundley was dispatched to 1022 Vance Street to help someone pick up their belongings.

Hundley encountered the mother of the children “and learned she desperately needed to get diapers out of the house for her two small children.”

Hundley later conveyed to Benthall and the mother the children wore soiled diapers. “He attempted to make contact with the resident who was the father of the two children but could not get anyone to answer the door. Officer Hundley then searched the area and eventually found the father.”

“The father was unwilling to cooperate and refused to provide any diapers for the children,” Benthall wrote. “Officer Hundley realized that the two innocent children would likely continue to suffer and not receive the level of care that any small child is entitled to if he did not take action. He then took it upon himself to purchase some diapers for (the mother) with his own money.”

Wrote Benthall: “Officer Hundley’s actions display a level of empathy, kindness and selflessness that should be inculcated in all members of the Roanoke Rapids Police Department.”