Officer Mark Nissen

On November 29, 2016 at about 4:36 AM, officers and deputies were advised by dispatch of a vehicle travelling the wrong way on Highway 20, comingOn November 29, 2016 at about 4:36 AM, officers and deputies were advised by dispatch of a vehicle travelling the wrong way on Highway 20, cominginto Black Hawk County from Grundy County. Of his own volition, Waterloo Police Officer Mark Nissen responded to the area of Highway 20 in anattempt to locate the reported eastbound vehicle. Officer Nissen got onto Highway 20, travelling westbound. In doing so, he came upon and passed anotherwestbound vehicle. Seconds later Officer Nissen observes the reported vehicle coming toward him. The suspect vehicle is in the outside lane of the four-lanehighway. Officer Nissen is also in the outside lane. Officer Nissen’s emergency lights are activated. The distance between the suspect vehicle and OfficerNissen’s marked squad car is closing rapidly. A mere 100 yards separates them. The suspect vehicle moves into the inside lane. The vehicle that OfficerNissen just passed is still coming behind him. Yet other traffic is behind that vehicle. Officer Nissen activates his siren, moves into the inside lane, andstops his squad car. Seconds later the suspect vehicle smashes head-on into Officer Nissen’s squad car. Officer Nissen advises dispatch that he has beenstruck by the suspect vehicle. It is apparent by his transmission that he is injured and in pain. He request an ambulance. He exits his squad car andapproaches the two occupants of the suspect vehicle. He directs them from the vehicle, inquiring if they are injured . He then guides them to a safe placebehind their vehicle, protecting them from passing vehicles on the highway. The driver of the suspect vehicle was ultimately arrested for driving whileintoxicated. I was later contacted by a person who was in one of the westbound vehicles that had been shielded by Officer Nissen in his squad car. Theperson commented that he felt Officer Nissen was beyond being a hero, for if Officer Nissen had not done what he did in stopping the suspect vehicle thisperson would have been one of the next vehicles meeting the suspect vehicle. Officer Nissen’s actions are in the highest tradition of the Waterloo PoliceDepartment. His valor is a shining example for all.

Officer Mark Nissen

Officer Shawn Bram and Officer Dustin Lindaman

On March 29, 2013, Officer Bram and Officer Lindaman responded to a call of a house on fire.  When they arrived on scene they spoke with a mother who told them that her five children were still inside the burning house.  The house was a very large, old, multi-story dwelling.  Smoke was pouring from the entire house.  Officer Bram and Lindaman ran into the smoke-filled house, located the children, and safely removed them from the residence.  Some of the children were found sleeping on a bed in a room filled with the smoke from the fire.

Officer Justin Brandt

In the early morning hours of July 22, 2012, Officer Brandt was on patrol.  He began to hear gunfire and noticed a man armed with a pistol on a crowded sidewalk, a mere 20-30 feet away, shooting at another man.  Officer Brandt exited his squad car, drew his sidearm, closed the distance to the gunman, and continually ordered the gunman to drop his weapon.  The scene was loud and chaotic.  A man yelled he had been shot.  Another man came from out of the crowd and punched the gunman in the face.  The gunman fell, but still held the pistol.  Officer Brandt, now upon the gunman in the crowd, kicked the gunman in the back.  The gunman dropped the pistol and was placed in handcuffs by Officer Brandt.  The large crowd now grew hotile toward the gunman.  Officer Brandt picked the gunman up and sprinted him off to Officer Brandt's squad car to protect the gunman from the unruly crowd.  The time from when the first shot was fired until Officer Brandt deposited the gunman into the squad car for safety was a mere 51 seconds according to a recording of the incident captured by the squad car's video recorder. 

Officer Justin Brandt

Officer Cory Allspach

On August 24, 2001, an individual with a 12-gauge shotgun fired a round into the front window of a local department store. This individual reportedly entered the store with the intent to injure or kill someone. At the same time, Officer Cory Allspach was shopping in the store in an off-duty capacity. After hearing the initial shot, Officer Allspach began a search of the store, located the shooter, ordered him to the ground and placed him in handcuffs. An incident that could have resulted in tragedy for the citizens of Waterloo was averted. Officer Allspach was awarded the Department Medal of Valor on December 10, 2001, for his actions.

Officer Jeremy Pohl

On March 13, 2001, an individual robbed a convenience store and kidnapped the female store clerk in a neighboring county. A short time later, it was broadcast that the kidnap victim had escaped and that the suspect was headed towards the area of a Waterloo gas station. Officer Jeremy Pohl responded to that area, located the suspect's abandoned vehicle and subsequently encountered the suspect. The suspect fired at officer Pohl at close-range, a struggle followed and ultimately Officer Pohl was forced to fire his weapon to subdue and arrest the suspect. Officer Pohl knowingly placed himself in an extremely hazardous situation and was awarded the Department Medal of Valor on November 2, 2002 for his actions.

Officer John Daws

On December 10, 1995, Waterloo Police Officer John Daws was dispatched to a home after a neighbor heard a smoke alarm and smelled smoke. Upon arrival, Officer Daws was informed that there could be two children and their mother inside. After kicking open the door, Officer Daws searched the home and found a 4-year-old boy in an upstairs bedroom. He carried the boy outside and entered the home again, locating 2-year-old girl in another bedroom. Officer Daws distinguished himself by outstanding bravery and lifesaving efforts and was awarded the Department Medal of Valor on January 3, 1996. John Daws retired from the police department as a lieutenant in 2005.