The Bartlesville City Council this week awarded several police officers and Chief Tracy Roles with Life Saving Commendations for their role in disarming a woman who had reportedly chased someone on Pathfinder Parkway while carrying a weapon on Sept. 20.
Sgt. Tyler Diedrich, Sgt. Travis Martinez, Cpl. Brad Dunkle, Reserve Officer Ray Raley, and Roles received the awards, presented by Deputy Chief Rocky Bevard, during the regularly scheduled City Council meeting on Monday.
“On Sept. 20, 2022 at approximately 11:56 am, Sgt. Diedrich and Sgt. Martinez responded to the area on the Pathfinder near Chick-Fil-A in reference to a woman who chased another woman with a knife,” Bevard said. “Bartlesville Dispatch advised responding officers that the incident occurred near hole 10 at the disc golf course on the Pathfinder. Sgt. Diedrich and Sgt. Martinez arrived initially and traveled the Pathfinder in Sgt. Martinez’ patrol vehicle in search of the suspect. After traveling several hundred yards down the Pathfinder, Sgt. Diedrich exited Sgt. Martinez’ vehicle and began searching the area on foot.”
Bevard said a short time later, Diedrich located hole 10 on the golf course, at which time he notified Martinez and Corporal Dunkle, who were already in close proximity.
“They all began searching the area. After several minutes, Sgt. Diedrich observed movement in the wooded area next to an opening approximately 60 yards west of hole 10 on the disk golf course,” Bevard said. “From what he observed, it appeared as if someone was waving some type of garment or towel in the wind.”
Diedrich then gained the attention of Dunkle, at which time they both began approaching the subject, Bevard said. He said as the two got closer, they observed a female who appeared to be holding “a long stick with a knife attached to the end.”
“The blade of the knife appeared to be approximately four to six inches in length,” Bevard said. “She was also carrying longer stick, approximately three feet in length, with what appeared to be a homemade sheath around the end of it in her left hand. In her right hand, she was holding what appeared to be a knife in another homemade sheath.”
He said she was ordered multiple times to drop the weapons by all officers on scene.
“She refused to comply,” Bevard said. “Sgt. Diedrich requested Reserve Officer Ray Raley retrieve his less lethal shot gun from his patrol vehicle and bring it to the location. Once the less lethal shotgun was on scene, Sgt. Diedrich transitioned with it to have that option.”
Bevard said that at one point during the standoff, the suspect charged several feet in the direction of Martinez and Dunkle.
“Sgt. Diedrich yelled to warn the other officers, at which time they backed up to gain distance from the suspect,” Bevard said. “Chief Roles responded and arrived on scene. Sgt. Diedrich, Sgt. Martinez and Cpl. Dunkle did an exceptional job negotiating with (the suspect) for over 30 minutes, until she turned south and started walking away, toward an opening on the Pathfinder. At this point, all three-knife blades were visible.”
Bevard said the officers were finally able to detain the suspect after deploying a taser for the second time.
“This situation could have ended very differently, given the circumstances and weapons involved,” said City Manager Mike Bailey. “Our police officers and Chief Roles did an outstanding job in bringing this incident to a peaceful and non-lethal end. They are all very deserving of this award.”