Valor Awards
Gold Medal Of Valor
Officer Walter Hires Atlantic City Local 24
Looking back with vim and vigor
A night dedicated to valor offered that and so much more to Retired Atlantic City Officer Walter Hires. The evening seemed to make him feel equal parts … Virtuous. Victorious. Vital. Venerable. Validated. On July 7, 2015, Hires had to use deadly force to end the life of a man wielding a knife who had already stabbed a store clerk and appeared to be headed out on a killing spree. The shooting was never in doubt, but the incident is the kind that forces so many highly trained, dedicated, celebrated officers into early retirement. Like Hires. He has been out two years, so coming to the NJ State PBA Valor Awards, and coming to a ballroom full of law enforcement officers, certainly reminded Hires about the aspects of the job that make for virtuous experiences and vital memories. And though there were a few moments of reliving the incident, there were many more of rejoicing alongside his venerable colleagues, whom he hoped felt the same sense of valor.
“ It kind of validates the things you go through after you are forced to take a life and the career changes that occur,” recalled Hires, who had 14 years on the job before that day.“ It helps validate that I did the right thing that day. I never doubted it, but it feels good to be accepted by your peers as having done the job properly.”
The call initially came in as a man shot at a convenience store and a robbery in progress. Hires was the first to respond and saw that the scene didn’ t come close to matching the description on the radio.
When Hires arrived, he saw a man fleeing the store. The store clerk came
out after him making a slashing movement with his hand. Hires observed a male wielding a machete. His hand was full of blood.
“ It was kill or be killed,” he described.“ I challenged him. Ordered him to stop and drop the knife three times. He refused and advanced upon me raising the knife, so I was forced to fire upon him.”
Looking back leads to the caliber of verve that makes the incident seem like it played out over minutes. And truth be told, Hires can often see it unfolding in slow motion.
But the vitriol of the man coming at Hires, well, that shifts it to fast forward: a man filled with venom and no time to think about how to respond.
“ I didn’ t have to think at all. I just followed the system by the numbers. That’ s how fast it happened, too. Lightning quick,” he related.“ There’ s nothing going through your mind. Just training. That’ s why I always tell the young guys,
follow your training. It will get you through.”
Hires would like to talk to more of those young guys. He has suggested to a retired deputy chief from Atlantic City about talking to Academy classes, telling recruits not just about his experience, but what to expect after being involved in a shooting.
Helping other officers might give Hires the connection to law enforcement he misses. But he doesn’ t think about it too much because it is what it is.
“ I’ m very happy I came out OK,” he added.“ And I might have stopped a killing. He was actually pursuing other people to stab them to death.”
Really, it comes down to one victorious feeling for Hires. He is able to leave it at this:
“ I’ m just glad I was able to save a few people’ s lives that day.” Voila. d
www. njcopsmagazine. com ■ DECEMBER 2017 51