CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. — Five Clackamas County Sheriff’s deputies were honored for an act of heroism after they pulled a man to safety after he was shot in the head in Welches back in November 2018.
Deputies Dan Olson, Gabe Adel, Tyler Alexander, Rayce Belmont and Josh Brown were awarded the Sheriff’s Medal of Valor.
“These deputies risked their lives to save this man. Their efforts were selfless and exhibit the very highest standards of our office. We’re honored to present them with our Medal of Valor,” the sheriff’s office said.
Background
Deputy Tyler Alexander was the first on the scene at a home in Welches on November 30, 2018, to a report of a suspicious person on East Welches Road. Deputy Alexander arrived to hear glass breaking and 6 to 10 gunshots, some he saw hit the pavement in front of the home.
Deputy Alexander called for backup and made his way up to the home and saw a man lying in the front yard moaning in pain. The man had been shot in the head, according to authorities.
Deputies Adel, Brown, Olson and Belmont arrived and split into two teams and worked their way to the home. Deputy Olson called out to the victim and told him to crawl out of the front yard, but the victim didn’t respond.
The deputies got together and formed a hasty rescue plan.
Deputy Alexander covered the broken window with his rifle while Deputies Olson, Brown and Belmont approached the victim by using the passenger side of Deputy’s Adel’s vehicle as a cover to reach him.
Deputy Olson then ran and grabbed the victim while Deputy Adel used his patrol car as a cover. The other deputies covered the window with their rifles.
They then loaded the victim into the patrol car. Deputy Brown stayed in the backseat with him, comforting him and assessing his injuries.
The victim was taken to paramedics who were staged nearby. Because of the deputies' quick efforts, the man survived.