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He was shot multiple times, but that didn't stop Oak Creek Police Lt. Brian Murphy from signaling fellow officers to continue rescuing victims at Sunday's deadly rampage at a Sikh temple in southern Wisconsin.
Oak Creek Police Department via AP
Lt. Brian Murphy has served the Oak Creek Police Department for over two decades.
Police say they got the initial call about the attack at 10:25 a.m. Sunday. Murphy, 51, was among the first authorities to arrive on scene where suspect Wade Michael Page allegedly killed six people. The temple is located in the suburb of Oak Creek, Wis. about 11 miles south of Milwaukee.
Murphy was ambushed when he stopped to help a victim, Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards told reporters Monday. He said that Murphy was shot eight to nine times with a handgun at close range. Though he was wearing a bullet-proof vest, Murphy was hit in his extremities and suffered a serious wound in his neck.
When officers went to check on Murphy, he signaled them to go into the temple to help other victims, Edwards said.
"He waved them off … and told them to go into temple to assist those in there," the police chief said.
Authorities in Wisconsin say the suspected gunman in the deadly shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, Wade Michael Page, Â was the former leader of a neo-Nazi skinhead rock band.
The suspect was killed on the scene by another officer.
Murphy, a 21-year veteran of the Oak Creek Police Department, remained in critical condition on Monday in the hospital. He is expected to survive.
Oak Creek Mayor Stephen Scaffidi called Murphy's efforts "heroic actions in the line of fire."
"He helped to take down somebody that was intent on taking down lots and lots of people," Scaffidi told NBC News on Monday. "He thought about others before himself."
The mayor also said Murphy has been a part of the tactical squad for years and is the emergency management liaison for the city.
"I sat in a meeting with him three weeks ago and we talked about situations like this," Scaffidi said.
Former Oak Creek Police Chief Thomas Bauer told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he is not surprised by Murphy's heroic actions.
"He's a highly distinguished police officer, highly decorated," Bauer told the Journal Sentinel.
Murphy had been one of three finalists for the police chief's job after Bauer retired, according to the Journal Sentinel.
"He was willing to step up and take on the additional responsibilities and duties and keep that position in-house," Bauer told the Journal Sentinel. "He was certainly well-qualified to take on that role."
On Monday, there was already a growing Facebook group of Sikhs expressing "extreme gratitude" to Murphy.
"We are thankful to ALL the first responders and organizations that helped our community yesterday, but feel a SPECIAL thanks needs to go out to Lt. Murphy who is in critical care," wrote group creator Seema Singh-Dulai.
New York-based human rights group Sikhs for Justice said they are pledging a $10,000 award to Murphy, the Journal Sentinel also reported.
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this man did his job to the best of his ability, placing himself in extreme danger, he is now in intensive care because of his actions, just how many of you leftists would do the same, ill bet you would expect someone else to do it for you????? you people that have the balls to say anything bad about this man should be deported from the land of the free!! ! ! !
retiredsgt,
I am posting this with respect to your view, but I want to challenge the question about 'leftists' responding in the same way. The willingness to place others before self is neither a left or right ideology. None of us can state how we respond until placed in extreme circumstance. Then the character of a person is tested. It is the internal compass of a person that determines the response, not the political ideation.
I do agree with your statement that anyone who would disrespect the actions of this officer should consider what they say. (paraphrase)
retired-
You assume that this police officer is a conservative? Last I checked, police officers can be conservative or liberal...
He did a great thing and some men/women would do the same and some would not, their political ideology has little to do with character.
I would definently want the caliber of Officer Murphy in any and all Law Enforcement Agencies.
With that said I would like to nominatE wayback and jwallace as DICK'S OF THE STRING
I second that motion!
Police Officer’s Creed
As a law enforcement officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard
lives and property, to protect the innocent against deception, the ‐weak against
oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect
the Constitutional rights of all men to liberty, equality, and justice.
I‐will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all, maintain courageous calm in
the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self‐restraint; and be constantly mindful
of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in both my personal and official
life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and the regulations of my
department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature or that is confided to me in
my official capacity ‐will be kept ever secret unless revelation is necessary in the
performance of my duty.
I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or
friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless
prosecution of criminals, I‐will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without
fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never
accepting gratuities.
I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it as a public
trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will constantly
strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my chosen
profession... law enforcement.
That I think covers it....
We have not heard from Governor Scott Walker. Is he still the GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN????
I'm sure that he doesn't want to make a statement since he pushed to stop collective bargaining for public unions which includes police officers
Actually Firefighters and Police were exempt from that.
Brian Murphy is a TRUE hero!!!!
A man of high principal, who was ready to meet his God. We all should be so ready!!
This officer is a true hero... My prayers go out to the family's who lost loved ones.....
This is one of those unsung heroes, a government employee hated by the Tea Party. A profession in which presidential candidate Mitt Romney is quoted as saying "We don't need any more cops, firefighters or teachers." I guess I can post the same thing under the fire in Oklahoma headline.
Any word on why the dead shooter did it? religion, race etc.
It was said he was a neo nazi don't know if he still is with that group, saw a picture of the coward and he looks like an idiot like most of the rest of them.
Thank you officer for doing a great job. All those of you posting political bs on this thread can go F&*K yourselves
good job officer murphy !!!! good job !!! but i can remember when i was young things like this did not happen !! what has happened to this once great country !! it makes me so sad !!!
Robocop. ("What's your name, son? Murphy, Sir").
Many in law enforcement do their job with honor and integrity everyday but we only hear of the bad apples. It is great to hear of one of the best, get well soon.
I admire a man that does his job, even when the job may mean his life. Well done LT Murphy. Beidh lá eile ag an bPaorach! As for the coward criminal murderer Page, of course he was a terrorist, and so are his like. The Muslim coward murderer Nidal Hasan is a terrorist and is being protected by one.
Prayers and blessings to hero Lt. Murphy and the others who lost their lives and are injured. Sorry, but I am glad that the gunman was killed. Saves us taxpayers some $$.
nice to read about a true Public-Servant, for a change..he's far more of a man than the scum-sucking common criminals hiding behind Newport, RI Police Badges - like JOSE COSTA!
Brian Murphy a real hero!
Robocop. ("What's your name, son? Murphy, Sir.")
God bless him!!!
He said: "I am OK. Go, and kill that S.O.B!"
Jean Valjean~God Bless YOU Sir, and tah all of the retards on here making political statements in the Fascist pig vein which you most certainly are~using this forum and blog re: heroic actions of an officer to vent your anger and frustrations and NAZI propaganda~this Country fought a long and costly WAR to get rid of FASCISM regardless of what color or Nation they ruled! You dunderheads are stupid, insensitive and without any common sense or decency! STFU, sit down and go to the rear of the class or sit in the cloak room with a dunce hat on yer feverish heads!
pessimist i like your posts !!!!!
Sikhs are good people, courageous in war but peaceable individually, hard working, family loving, clean and free of vice. Some continue to wear the turban, rolled beard and other outward symbols of their faith; others have given it up in their new country but all have the spirit of their great founder Guru Nanak.
They obey the law, send their kids to school, don't take welfare.
These are the kind of people we WANT in America.
Gob bless and a quick recovery LT.
Blah, blah, blah.
'If it bleeds it leads". CNN will milk this one ad nauseum. They'll be pushing their anti- 2nd Amendment cause.
and fox news is probably reporting the shooter was a member of the black panther party. LMAO
willie,
Hey, p(utz). Maybe you should watch Fox and see for yourself!!!