Four Coffeyville Police Department officers were honored at the Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) at the association’s annual awards banquet in Hutchinson, Kan., on May 24.

Awarded the Gold Award, which goes to an officer who shows uncommon valor in the line of duty were Lt. Herman Colbert, Sgt. Darin Daily, Det. Sgt. Kwin Bromley and Master Patrol Officer Craig Males for their actions in the Feb. 17, 2009, response to an armed robbery at the Bank of America branch at Eighth and Buckeye streets.

The response to the bank robbery led to a pursuit of the suspect plus a gun battle that led to the death of an innocent bystander. The suspect, Ross Williams, fired in excess of 30 rounds with a handgun and assault rifle at the Coffeyville police officers. Numerous rounds fired by the suspect struck the officers’ vehicles, including several rounds to the driver’s side windshield of the lead patrol vehicle. One of Williams’ rounds struck and killed an innocent bystander, Willie Neal Jr., who was approximately a quarter of a mile away from the gunfight.

Despite this barrage of gunfire, Lt. Colbert, Sgt. Daily, Det. Sgt. Bromley and MPO Males returned fire with their handguns, forcing Williams to cease firing his weapons and flee into a wooded area nearby. Williams was apprehended approximately three hours later without further incident.

Williams was wearing body armor at the time of his apprehension and his vehicle contained numerous items to assist him in his criminal endeavors, including spare magazines loaded with ammunition, handcuffs, masks, extra license plates, numerous knives and a stun gun.

Ross Williams pled guilty to several federal charges and is currently serving a 40-year sentence in federal prison.