Bradenton Police Officer David Durrance Named Florida West Coast "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year

BRADENTON – Officer David Durrance of the Bradenton Police Department has been named "Law Enforcement Officer of the Year" by the Florida West Coast Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) International.

The Bradenton Police Department nominated Officer Durrance for his role in subduing an armed suspect who had apparently tried to rob a bank on the afternoon of June 2, 2009. The suspect pulled a gun on a police officer before being shot and injured by Officer Durrance.

Bradenton Police Officer David Durrance

 
Police had received an emergency call regarding an attempted bank robbery, after employees saw a suspicious man wearing gloves and pulling a bandanna over his face outside the bank's front doors. His entry into the bank was thwarted by employees who locked the door after recognizing him as a suspect in recent armed bank robberies.
 
The suspect fled, but was tracked by Sgt. Curtis Johnson and Officer Durrance of the Bradenton Police Department’s Crimes Unit. The two policemen conducted a felony stop on 26th Street West.

 
As the officers approached the truck, the suspect grabbed a gun and aimed it at Sgt. Johnson. Officer Durrance fired one shot from his service weapon into the torso of the suspect, causing him to drop the firearm. He was taken to a hospital and has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer and Attempted Armed Robbery.
 
Officer Durrance will be honored at an awards luncheon May 20, in Tampa.