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by MSgt. Merrie Schilter Lowe
Air Force News Service
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WASHINGTON -- The law enforcement
airman who stopped a former airman from killing additional innocent bystanders
at Fairchild AFB, Wash., last year has won the Air Force's highest security
police (SPS) award.
SrA. Andrew P. Brown, now with the 15th Security Police Squadron at Hickam
AFB, Hawaii, received the Col. Billy Jack Carter Award during ceremonies
at Offutt AFB, Neb., April 26.
The award is named for the first career security police officer to become
Air Force chief of security police. Carter was also commander of the 377th
SPS at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, which distinguished itself in Vietnam
during the Tet Offensive.
Air Force annually presents the Carter award to the military, civilian or
contract employee who makes the most significant contribution in protecting
Air Force people and resources.
Brown, who has been in law enforcement and the Air Force about six years,
said in a telephone interview that he is very proud of the award and what
it represents, despite the tragedy that merited his winning it. The 25-year-old
airman shot and killed former A1C Dean Mellberg, who had gone on a shooting
rampage at Fairchild June 20, killing five people and wounding 23 others.
"Looking back, I have to remind myself of what could have happened had I
not been there," said the soft-spoken Brown. "A lot of other innocent people
might have died."
Brown, who is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs180 pounds, was on bicycle patrol
the day of the incident. He had just stopped to talk with the gate guard
before going to patrol the housing area outside the base when the call came
that shots had been fired at the base hospital, which is also located outside
the base perimeter.
Brown raced the three-tenths of a mile to the hospital parking lot, where
he found scores of screaming people fleeing the area.
Brown tried to determine the location of the gunman but got conflicting reports
from the panic-stricken crowd. Once past the crowd, Brown spotted Mellberg
who was armed with a MAK-90 assault rifle. Instinct and training then took
over, Brown said.
"I got off my bike, drew my weapon, crouched down and shouted, 'Police; drop
your weapon!'" Mellberg ignored the order and continued firing at innocent
people. Brown fired four shots from his 9mm handgun, two of which struck
Mellberg.
With reports that a second gunman was in the area, Brown -- along with other
base and local police now on the scene -- conducted an extensive search of
the area while evacuating hundreds of people from the crime scene. "His
performance under pressure surpassed the expectations of our profession,"
said Lt. Col. Dennis A. Hunsinger, Brown's former commander at the 92nd SPS
at Fairchild. Hunsinger said the airman "faced the ultimate challenge of
a law enforcement patrolman and won the battle."
Shortly after the shooting, President Clinton directed that Brown receive
the Airman's Medal for heroism. Gen. John M. Loh, Air Combat Command commander,
presented the medal June 30. Brown also received an award from the Spokane,
Wash., community, and another from the International Police Mountain Bike
Association.
Brown is a 1988 graduate of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard. He
said he really enjoys law enforcement and plans to continue in the field
even after his military career.
Submitted by Kevin Legge.
© Air Force News. Reprinted with permission. |
