National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Announces August 2023 Officer of the Month

Officer honored for heroic tractor-trailer rescue amid blazing inferno

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund Published November 2, 2023 @ 3:00 pm PDT

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF)

proudly announces Lieutenant Corey Brooks of the Salisbury, North Carolina, Police Department as the Officer of the Month for August 2023. Lieutenant Brooks’s remarkable act of heroism in rescuing a nonresponsive truck driver from a burning tractor-trailer on the interstate highway has earned him this well-deserved recognition.

On Tuesday, August 8, Lieutenant Brooks was responding to a separate incident in the late hours of the evening. While on Interstate 85, he witnessed an accident where a tractor-trailer collided with a retaining wall, igniting into a fierce blaze. In a split second, the lieutenant displayed unwavering courage, springing into action. He quickly approached the burning truck’s cab, where he discovered the unconscious driver trapped inside. Without hesitation, Brooks swiftly informed the authorities via his radio and displayed remarkable heroism by extracting the unresponsive driver from the passenger seat of the tractor-trailer.

“Lieutenant Corey Brooks’s selfless actions exemplify the highest standards of law enforcement and service to the community,” NLEOMF Chief Executive Officer Bill Alexander said. “His courage and quick thinking in the face of danger are nothing short of heroic, and we are honored to recognize him as our Officer of the Month for August 2023.”

Brooks has more than two decades of experience in law enforcement, beginning his career with the East Spencer, North Carolina, Police Department in 1998. He has earned a number of accolades throughout his tenure, including the City of Salisbury Keys to Excellence Bronze Award, Salisbury Police Veteran Officer of the Year, the 2016 Blue Line Brotherhood Award and the Lions Club Salisbury Police Veteran of the Year Award.

The Officer of the Month Award Program is sponsored by the Police Unity Tour and recognizes federal, state and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.

—www.NLEOMF.org—

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all of the 23,229 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org), is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

View articles by National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund