Cpl. James Putman, left, and Cpl. Devin Wright listen during a recent training seminar at the Graham Police Department. Putman has been nominated to receive the Texas Municipal Police Association's 2009 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Valor Award. (Photo by Cherry Rushin)
Achievement in valor
by By Cherry Rushin
(Posted 12/8/2009 03:51 pm)
newsdesk@grahamleader.com
One of Graham’s finest has recently been nominated for one of the state’s highest honors.
Cpl. James Putman of the Graham Police Department was nominated at the request of the Texas Municipal Police Association to receive its 2009 State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Valor Award.
According to a press release issued by the association, Putman was selected to receive the nomination based on his handling of a suspect shooting that resulted in Putman himself being shot twice.
On Sept. 6, Putman was shot twice by a suspect while assisting the Young County Sheriff’s Office with an investigation into reported suspicious activity with the suspect being armed and holding a hostage.
Putman said he was the closest officer in the area when the call went out, and he simply responded to it. His actions from there were first and foremost in keeping the public safe.
“My first thought at the time was for the other subjects in the car. In the middle of the incident, it became personal and to me getting back home,” he said.
Police Chief Tony Widner said Putman is deserving of the honor because he acted above and beyond the call of duty.
“He made every reasonable effort to end the confrontation without shooting. He risked his own life to give the subject a chance to disarm and was struck twice before returning fire,” Widner said. “No officer is expected to take that kind of risk with his own life. It shows his dedication to the protection of our community and every human life.”
Widner said according to Putman’s car video and witness accounts, the officer tried every step of the way to end the confrontation without a loss of life.
“(Putman) told the suspect to disarm when he got out of the car, when the suspect got out of the car, when (the suspect) raised his weapon and even after he was shot before firing back,” Widner said. “It is an extremely high level of maturity and professionalism in his training to make the conscious decision to wait that long before returning fire. An officer is justified under state law to use deadly force when met with deadly force. I don’t think there are very many officers in the country that would go that far.”
Putman said he is in an humbled state as a result of the nomination. He feels he was just doing his job.
“It’s hard to think that I’m nominated for this. We went through training to do this profession, and it’s what we’re there for — to stop these violent acts of crime and sometimes without thinking about safety for ourselves. But it’s expected of us, without reward,” he said.
Many might reconsider their line of work after receiving multiple gunshot wounds, but that’s not the case with Putman.
He said he wanted to go back to work that night and the incident reinforced his belief that he was doing the work he was meant to do.
The award requires that nominees must have performed an act of personal heroism or bravery which exceeds the normal expectations of job performance, such as placing one’s own life in jeopardy to save another person’s life, prevent serious bodily injury to another or prevent the consequences of a criminal act.
Tom Gaylor, deputy executive director of the Texas Municipal Police Association, said that is exactly what Putman did.
“Officer Putman selflessly stood in harm’s way, took gunshots from an assailant and while considering innocent bystanders, returned fire stopping the assault,” Gaylor said. “That is bravery, and I’m honored to recommend him for the Texas Medal of Valor.”
