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Nashville police yesterday identified six officers who cleaned buildings before an explosion: Brenna Hosey (clockwise top left), James Wells, James Luellen, Amanda Topping, Michael Sipos and Timothy Miller.
Nashville Metropolitan Police Department
Nashville Mayor John Cooper praised the six swift cops who evacuated buildings in downtown Nashville, putting themselves in danger to save lives on Christmas morning.
“They are heroes. And I’m grateful for them and for all of Nashville’s top respondents, ”Cooper told CNN.
The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department identified officers, ranging from a rookie to an 11-year veteran, as:
- Officer Brenna Hosey, a 4-year veteran;
- Officer James Luellen, with the department for 3 years;
- Officer Michael Sipos, a rookie with 16 months at work;
- Officer Amanda Topping, with the department for 21 months;
- Officer James Wells, also with the department for 21 months; i
- Sergeant Timothy Miller, an 11-year veteran.
Officers arrived at the scene shortly after 6 a.m. after answering a call about the shootings. They found that the RV was making an engraved warning: “All buildings in this area must be evacuated now. All buildings in this area must be evacuated now,” the voice said.
They immediately started knocking on doors and evacuating residents. “These officers have saved lives today,” Metro Police Chief John Drake said, The Tennessean reported. Only three people were injured in the blast, which damaged nearby buildings and shattered the windows of the blocks.
“This is a year where we understand what our first users mean to our community over and over again,” Cooper said. “Unfortunately, on Christmas Day, you have another example.”