Pittsburgh police Officer Christine Bradley tried to revive Officer Colleen Bristow, who was lying unconscious on a North Side street, before stepping between her and an oncoming van and opening fire.
"I wasn't going to leave her," Bradley said. "That never entered my mind."
For her bravery in the September 2010 incident, police officials awarded Bradley the Medal of Valor, the highest honor given by Pittsburgh police, at an awards and commendation ceremony in the City-County Building, Downtown, on Monday. Police also awarded citations, a Purple Heart and other honors to officers at the ceremony.
"It's fantastic," Bradley said of receiving the award. "It's very nice to be recognized."
Bristow was hospitalized with head and elbow injuries after she was hit by a getaway van during a robbery at the Swap Meet indoor flea market. The suspect, Aaron Farrow, 25, of Oakland, veered around Bradley and police arrested him. He wasn't hit by gunfire. Farrow and five other men were accused of conspiring to sell marijuana and robbing an illicit operation at the Swap Meet of money and illegal drugs.
Bradley said she watched the van drag Bristow and ran to her aid.
"There really wasn't any thought process," Bradley said. "You do what you have to do to protect someone who can't protect themselves."
Officials awarded the Medal of Valor to police Sgt. Michael Hoffman and officers Elvis Duratovic, Mark Kneebone, Gregory Livesey, Louis Schweitzer, Robert Smolinski, Steven Sywyj, Todd Waller, Timothy Werner and Caytlin Wood for their work in rescuing stranded motorists during the Aug. 19 flooding on Washington Boulevard. Four people died in the flood.
"Due to these officers' quick actions, they were able to prevent any further lives being lost that day," police Chief Nate Harper said.
