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