Earlier this year, hundreds of runners and even more spectators were participating the Skyway 10K in Tampa, Florida.
A woman allegedly driving under the influence crashed through the barricades; barriers placed on the road to control traffic near the race.
The woman's vehicle was headed towards runners and spectators.
Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Toni Schuck heard the call and drove toward toward the vehicle with her emergency lights and siren on.
She assumed the other driver would stop.
"Trp. Schuck put herself in serious danger when she chose, with very little time, to drive her cruiser into the path of a drunk driver," Law Enforcement Today reported.
She did this knowing there was a chance she would be hit by the speeding vehicle.
She also knew it could injure or kill her, but Schuck put the lives of others ahead of her own in that instant.
The resultant crash, which was captured on Schuck’s vehicle’s dashcam, stopped the other vehicle before it could injure anyone at the event.
"This wasn’t some low-speed fender bender. The BMW, driven by a woman who now faces DUI-related charges, is speeding toward Schuck, who expertly maneuvered into its path before it could get closer to the runners," the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Schuck was injured and received a concussion.
She's thankfully back at work, but is still undergoing physical therapy.
She will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.
"My job was to protect those people, so I was going to do whatever it was going to take to get her [the other driver] to stop," Schuck told Fox News.
Because of her heroics and willingness to risk her own life to save others, Schuck was given the "Back the Blue" Patriot Award this month.
The award is given during an annual event recognizing those who have demonstrated courage and strength.
It's important to note, some of those in the crowd, who were saved from injury by Schuck’s actions, may well have protested the police at one time or another.
Once again, police officers show they are willing to go above and beyond in their call to duty. They will protect and serve even those who might turn around and show disdain.
They do it not just because it's part of the job that they signed on to do.
They do it because it part of who they are. They are people who are trying their best to do the right thing in circumstances that we can only hope we never have to deal with ourselves.
In November of 2021, 40-year-old Darrell Brooks crashed into a Christmas parade in Wuakesha, Wisconsin, resulting in Brooks being charged with six counts of intentional homicide.
He defended himself at trial and was subsequently found guilty.
According to CNN: "Brooks, 40, also was convicted of 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety with the use of a dangerous weapon, six counts of fatal hit and run, two counts of felony bail jumping and one count of misdemeanor domestic battery — a clean sweep for the prosecution."
Those first responders and police officers who face such tragedies daily should have statues dedicated to them as well as murals painted of them.
At the very least, they are people we should be saying, "Thank You!" to — daily.
Happily, that is what has happened with Trooper Schuck. She said, "There’s been an outpouring of appreciation for what I did. I’ve had so many runners groups and different types of Law Enforcement Officers who were involved in crashes similar to mine, that is was so over whelming."
Don’t let that appreciation end with the incidents in Tampa and Waukesha.
We know there are other such crimes, and sadly, we are painfully well-aware there will be more.
Let our gratirude be never-ending, and loudly ring — especially during the holidays — and beyond.
Trooper Schuck was lucky.
She survived to receive her well-deserved recognition and appreciation.
Many other first reponders and law enforcement officers aren’t that fortunate.
They lose their lives attempting to guard and save us, as well as our loved ones.
Merry Christmas. Happy New Year. May peace reign on earth.
Michael Letts is the Founder and CEO of In-Vest USA, a national grassroots nonprofit organization helping to re-fund police by contributing thousands of bulletproof vests for police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. He also has over 30 years of law enforcement experience. Read More Michael Letts reports — Here.
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