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JON WILSONSt. Petersburg's Timothy Virden ranks among Parade's top U.S. police officers for his valor in a shootout.
ST. PETERSBURG - An episode police described as a scene out of the movies has led to a St. Petersburg officer being named one of the nation's top officers.
Officer Timothy Virden, chasing a gang of drive-by shooters in April 2003, saw two men sitting in the fleeing car's open windows. They started firing high-caliber rifles at the officer's cruiser.
Virden watched muzzle flashes and heard the rounds smashing into his car. Telling his passenger, an officer in training, to duck under the dash, Virden took what cover he could find behind the cruiser's front windshield post.
But a bullet slammed through the windshield, slicing Virden in the head. The officer, married with children and grandchildren, kept up the chase for several miles, following the shooters off Interstate 275 and on to city streets.
Eventually, he bumped the rear of their car. It slid sideways and lurched onto the cruiser's hood. Virden swerved and hit the brakes, causing the other car to slide off the hood, overturn and start rotating on its roof.
Virden got out, challenged the suspects and yanked a shotgun away from one of them. Backup officers arrived. Four men were arrested and charged with a variety of offenses.
For his actions, Virden, 49, is recognized in today's issue of Parade magazine, as one of the nation's outstanding law enforcement officers.
Since 1966, the magazine and the International Association of Chiefs of Police have honored officers for courage, heroism and innovative public service programs.
Virden and nine other officers around the nation received honorable mention in this year's awards. They will be honored at a luncheon Saturday in Los Angeles.
Sgt. Tim Brockman was Virden's sergeant and was following him in another cruiser during the wild chase last year.
"It was unbelievable," Brockman said. "Behind him was a good place to be."
The pursuit ended several days of a neighborhood feud that resulted in two people being shot to death, a woman being shot in the leg and at least five homes being damaged by gunfire.
In nominating Virden for heroism, Brockman wrote: "Had Officer Virden not been brave enough and strong enough to continue the pursuit after being shot at and wounded, I am confident the senseless violence was going to continue."
Virden was treated for a gunshot wound that left a gash on his head requiring a half dozen stitches. He also was awarded the Police Department's Medal of Valor and Purple Heart on Sept. 24.
A three-year veteran of the St. Petersburg police force, Virden hasn't been available for comment. He is still on patrol, lately training officers during the night shift.
"Tim is a very private guy," Brockman said. "He was very uncomfortable with all the recognition and accolades. He said, "Look, I was just doing my job.' "