Lieutenant Denzler with the Splendora Police Department, assigned to the Special Operations Division, was honored on May 14, 2020 with the 100 Club Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. He was one of 42 law enforcement officers and 36 firefighters honored for exceptional heroic achievement. Lieutenant Denzler was selected for his response to an active shooter incident in Liberty County Texason May 29, 2019. The shooter entered the B Dependable Plumbing store in Cleveland Texas that morning killing two employees, and injuring one other by gunfire. The suspected shooter was then confronted by Liberty County Deputy Sheriff Richard Whitten which resulted in gunfire, striking Deputy Whitten in the neck and paralyzing him.
Lieutenant Denzler responded and was the first Montgomery County Law Enforcement Officer to arrive at the active shooter scene and immediately entered the B Dependable Plumbing store with two other Officers from within Liberty County to secure the building and treat the injured. Lieutenant Denzler is also a certified medic and rendered medical care to the injured. As the manhunt pursued into the morning for the suspect, Lieutenant Denzler commanded the East Montgomery County Strategic Response Team to assist the Liberty County Special Response Team in their efforts to find the suspect. After hours of the suspect on the run, Lieutenant Denzler and his team found the suspect lying under a boat a couple miles from the crime scene. As Lieutenant Denzler approached the suspect giving verbal commands to show his hands, the suspect took his own life within feet of Lieutenant Denzler and his team.
As the weeks passed on from that terrible day, Lieutenant Denzler paired up with several local law enforcement officers and local community members to help coordinate a benefit to raise money for the long road to recovery for Deputy Whitten. The benefit received 100,000 dollars in donations in just one day. Deputy Whitten had months to go in the hospital for rehabilitation.
Sadly on February 3, 2020 Deputy Richard Whitten with the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office passed away from his injuries that he received on May 29, 2019 while conducting a rehab session in the hospital. His Line of Duty Death Funeral was held on February 8, 2020.
Several other law enforcement officers were also recognized yesterday with the 100 Club Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award for their involvement that day May 29, 2019 to include a posthumous award for Liberty County Deputy Sheriff Richard Whitten. The award will be accepted by his wife Kami Whitten.
A 100 Club representative stated. "Lt. Denzler, and the other responding officers demonstrated extraordinary valor on May 29, 2019 as they worked to save Deputy Whitten’s life, the lives of those injured at B Dependable Plumbing, and avert another tragedy by catching the suspect quickly."
Congratulations Lieutenant Denzler and all of those who received an award!
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