Defense of the people and facilities at each Air Force installation is an important job. Law enforcement teams function like a local police force, protecting against criminal activity and providing a measure of security for Airmen, their families, and the thousands of civilians on each base.
The police officers, guards, and security specialists receive intensive training and know they may face danger at any moment.
Officer Danny Gordon, 88th civilian police officer at Wright-Patterson AFB, shared his story of a day where he faced death in the line of duty as a young rookie during a wing level base-wide exercise. He described his morning, which started with replacing one of the security forces augmentees to help with morning traffic. Gordon then had to perform a routine turn-around, after an unauthorized driver had accidentally pulled up to the gate. He instructed the driver to give him his driver’s license and put his car into park. The driver of the vehicle disregarded his instructions, put his car into drive, and dragged Gordon three and a half feet toward oncoming traffic. Sustaining injuries to his right leg and shoulder, Gordon contemplated the use of deadly force. After analyzing the risk, he decided not to use deadly force, for fear that he would injure an innocent person in the vicinity. A security forces augmentee put in a radio call for help, and together, Gordon, his team, and the security forces were able to quickly resolve the situation.
Gordon credits the positive outcome to the training that they receive as police officers. He shared his story so that others would know what kinds of police officers are looking out for them. “We’re all one team and one family.”
When asked about her experiences as a civilian law enforcement officer with the Air Force, Christina Hill, a Desk Controller at Lackland AFB, said, “Everyday is always something different. It’s always a challenge — always something new, interesting, and a learning experience.”
Parts of this article originally appeared here.