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Nashville police identified six officers who cleared buildings yesterday before an explosion: Brenna Hosey (clockwise from top left), James Wells, James Luellen, Amanda Topping, Michael Sipos and Timothy Miller.
Nashville Metropolitan Police Service
Nashville Mayor John Cooper praised the six fast-acting agents who evacuated buildings in downtown Nashville and put themselves in danger of saving lives on Christmas morning.
‘They are heroes. And I am grateful to them and all of Nashville’s emergency responders, ”said Cooper, reported CNN.
Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified the agents, who range from a rookie to an 11-year-old veteran, as:
- Officer Brenna Hosey, a 4-year veteran;
- Officer James Luellen, 3 years in the department;
- Agent Michael Sipos, a rookie with 16 months on the job;
- Agent Amanda Topping, 21 months in the department;
- Agent James Wells, also 21 months in the department; and
- Sergeant Timothy Miller, an 11-year veteran.
The agents arrived on the scene shortly after 6am after responding to a call about gunshots. They felt the RV blared a recorded warning: “All buildings in this area should now be cleared. All buildings in this area must now be cleared, ”said the voice.
They immediately started knocking on doors and evacuating residents. “Those agents saved lives today,” said Subway Police Chief John Drake, The Tennessean reported. Only three people were injured in the explosion, which damaged nearby buildings and shattered windows in front of blocks.
“This is a year when we understand what our first responders mean to our community time and again,” Cooper said. “Unfortunately you have another example of that on Christmas Day.”