For their bravery and courage, Sinclair’s Chief of Police Charles Gift nominated Sinclair Police officer Hollis Hatten and two Sinclair students for the 2011 Crime Stoppers award.
Hatten was nominated for his immediate arrival to the scene of a crime.
While making sure that Building 9 was properly secured and all the doors were locked, Hatten heard three or four gunshots close to the college.
“Being a police officer, my first reaction was that something was wrong. When the gunshots went off, I jumped into my cruiser, and I just went. I didn’t think, I just went,” Hatten said. “There is a saying about police officers: ‘when shots are fired everyone runs away, but police officers are the only ones running toward the gun shots.’”
Hatten hurried to the A-List Lounge located on 212 South Ludlow Street in Dayton and found a victim was bleeding profusely from his chest. Two bystanders were administering first aid, but the victim needed immediate medical attention.
Hatten then rushed the victim and the two bystanders to Miami Valley Hospital in his police cruiser. The young man died at the hospital.
“It is always nice to be nominated and honored when you are doing your job,” Hatten said. “I just wish that things would have turned out differently and the young man lived. I thought he was going to make it because I responded to the scene quickly, but his injuries were so severe.”
“He was nominated for the Officer of the Year award by Crime Stoppers because he went above and beyond,” Gift said. “The shooting could have been a hostile environment, but he went to the location to help save another person’s life without due regard of his personal safety.”
Students Carey Bowling and Kevin Mayer witnessed a domestic violence dispute and displayed acts of bravery on April 12, 2011.
A female had been yelling for help while trying to exit a vehicle that was parked on West Third Street near Building 7. Not sure of what to do, Bowling and Mayer devised a plan. Mayer would run to summon Sinclair police and Bowling would stay at the scene.
But the abuse escalated and the attacker, who was the woman’s boyfriend, began to choke her as she continued to yell for help, Gift said. The boyfriend was observed pushing his girlfriend into the busy street because of her incessant pleas for help.
After the police responded to the crisis, it was Bowling and Mayer’s description of the scene that ultimately led to the conviction of the attacker, Gift said.
“They were subpoenaed to go to court as witnesses. Their testimony also helped get a conviction for domestic violence but also for assault,” Gift said. “They went above and beyond in this situation and helped prevent this visitor to campus (the woman) from being physically injured.”
Gift later nominated Bowling and Mayer for the Student of the Year award through Crime Stoppers.
“Sinclair Police have a primary responsibility of keeping the campus safe, but students, faculty and staff play a part in keeping the campus safe as well,” Gift said.
If you witness a crime or see any unusual activity contact Sinclair’s Police Department at 937-512-2700.