By Aileen Wingblad
The Oakland Press
Nearly a year after a Macomb County man opened fire at a splash pad in Rochester Hills — wounding nine people including three children — the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the Rochester Hills Fire Department have been awarded national recognition for emergency medical care provided at the scene.
The Captain Frank Butler Casualty Care Award was presented to the two agencies last week at the annual North American Active Assailant Conference in Troy in honor of their efforts following the June 15, 2024 shooting at the Brooklands Plaza splash pad.
“I am incredibly proud of our team members and partners with the Rochester Hills Fire Department,” Sheriff Michael Bouchard stated in a news release. “Their actions, in my opinion, saved lives on that fateful day. We hope and pray to never experience such tragic events, but in our line of work, that is not a viable strategy; preparation is our strategy. In this instance, it proved its worth.”
The award is named for Captain Frank Butler, a medical doctor and U.S. Navy SEAL. He’s recognized as “the father of tactical combat casualty care,” the sheriff’s office said.
Among the emergency response efforts In the aftermath of the Rochester Hills shooting, five tourniquets were applied to victims — including four by Sgt. Joe Ashley, the sheriff’s office said. The gunman, 42-year-old Michael Nash, died that day by suicide following a standoff at the Shelby Township home where he lived with his mother.
Bouchard was among the featured speakers at last week’s conference, which drew more than 1,500 attendees.
The sheriff’s office said the event is the largest of its kind dedicated to improving emergency response to active violence. Its format features firsthand debriefings of past tragedies by representatives of the lead public safety agencies involved, the sheriff’s office said.
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