Two Madison police officers will be honored at a TOP COPS awards ceremony Saturday in Washington, D.C., for their heroic performances while on call last April.
On April 12, 2006, MPD officers Kip Kellogg and Kirby Harless responded to a call from a man at a BP gas station who said kidnapers who were possibly armed were in a nearby van. Kellogg and Harless arrived on the scene and opened the bathroom with a spare key.
Much to their surprise, the man sprang at them with a knife, aggressively swinging and stabbing the weapon at them. The officers tried to subdue him with a Taser, but due to his cocaine-induced rage, the method was not successful. The delusional man continued to stab and bite Kellogg and Harless, not giving in to any restraint efforts.
Finally, Harless drew his gun in an effort to save his life, Kellogg's and those of bystanders.
Both Harless and Kellogg will receive honorable mention awards at the ceremony sponsored by the National Association of Police Organizations, after MPD Officer Jean Papalia nominated the two.
