Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police Department was the first officer on scene that morning. Additionally, there were eight other officers from the Oak Creek Police Department and approximately 17 members of the Oak Creek Fire Department and Emergency Paramedics team. Teams from nearby South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Greenfield, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee and Franklin were also onsite.
Their dedication and commitment to training and safety helped stop a tragedy that could have claimed even more lives, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi said.
“Obviously you never expect anything like this to happen in your city,” Scaffidi said. “I am so proud of the efforts of the fire and police first responders and all the people who worked on the scene that day. It is a product of their training. As a result this terrible situation was handled as quickly as possible, without panic.”
For many members of the Police and Fire Department, this was the second shooting incident they responded to in their community. In 2004, a gunman opened fire in a hotel suite; killing two and injuring two others.
“Everyone’s training kicked in,” said Tom Rosandich, Chief of the Oak Creek Fire Department. “Every safety officer on scene knew what needed to be done. In regards to our Fire and EMS responders they needed to care for the wounded victims, and notify and update our hospitals on the situation.”
According to Rosandich, even a retired Oak Creek Fire Department member was able to use his training to care for a wounded victim who walked to his nearby house from the temple.
“I’m proud of the team,” Rosandich said. “They reacted quickly and efficiently to the situation.”
The Oak Creek Police Department has been recognized nationally for its dedication to training. The quick response from police and fire department officials saved lives that day, Scaffidi said.
Murphy’s presence lured the shooter out of the temple, said Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards.
“Brian Murphy, in my mind saved an untold number of lives,” Edwards said. “When you look back at the situation in regards specifically to the first responders, the incident was handled quickly and efficiently.”
When Murphy arrived on scene he rushed to the aid of victim outside the temple. The gunman opened fire on Murphy. He was shot 12 times, before fellow officer Savon (Sam) Lenda wounded the gunman and brought him down.
Murphy underwent throat surgery in late November to repair his vocal cords.
According to Edwards, Murphy is doing well. He has two bullets still lodged in his body and in addition to his neck injury; the thumb on his left hand is the most serious injury that remains.
“For what happened to him, he’s doing fantastic,” Edwards said. “It’s amazing, he really shouldn’t be alive, and he’s said that to me numerous times.”
While no one could predict the tragedy that occurred on that day, no one could predict how the Oak Creek community would come together in the aftermath either.
“The incident has really made our community stronger, and Mayor Scaffidi was a big part of that,” Edwards said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The mayor was very aggressive in reaching out to the Sikh community; letting them know we were there for them. He didn’t just put it aside, he put up a display in our city hall explaining who the Sikh community was and he pushed education, tolerance and understanding of diversity in our community. I don’t think anyone has seen a community come together quite like our community did.”
“It defines the word community,” Scaffidi said. “We truly have a group of people who have illustrated such kindness and compassion towards individuals who have been placed in such an unthinkable position. It is very heartening to see how this community cares about each other. It has made the transition after this tragedy so much smoother. I’m very proud of us for that.”
Shots rang out inside the Sikh Temple located at 7512 S. Howell Ave. in Oak Creek. It was the morning of Sunday, Aug. 5, just before worship was to begin. Nobody in the community could predict what would happen that day. A lone gunman, Wade Michael Page, took the lives of six victims before turning the gun on himself after a shootout with members of the Oak Creek Police Department.
Lt. Brian Murphy of the Oak Creek Police Department was the first officer on scene that morning. Additionally, there were eight other officers from the Oak Creek Police Department and approximately 17 members of the Oak Creek Fire Department and Emergency Paramedics team. Teams from nearby South Milwaukee, St. Francis, Greenfield, Wauwatosa, Milwaukee and Franklin were also onsite.
Their dedication and commitment to training and safety helped stop a tragedy that could have claimed even more lives, Oak Creek Mayor Steve Scaffidi said.
“Obviously you never expect anything like this to happen in your city,” Scaffidi said. “I am so proud of the efforts of the fire and police first responders and all the people who worked on the scene that day. It is a product of their training. As a result this terrible situation was handled as quickly as possible, without panic.”
For many members of the Police and Fire Department, this was the second shooting incident they responded to in their community. In 2004, a gunman opened fire in a hotel suite; killing two and injuring two others.
“Everyone’s training kicked in,” said Tom Rosandich, Chief of the Oak Creek Fire Department. “Every safety officer on scene knew what needed to be done. In regards to our Fire and EMS responders they needed to care for the wounded victims, and notify and update our hospitals on the situation.”
According to Rosandich, even a retired Oak Creek Fire Department member was able to use his training to care for a wounded victim who walked to his nearby house from the temple.
“I’m proud of the team,” Rosandich said. “They reacted quickly and efficiently to the situation.”
The Oak Creek Police Department has been recognized nationally for its dedication to training. The quick response from police and fire department officials saved lives that day, Scaffidi said.
Murphy’s presence lured the shooter out of the temple, said Oak Creek Police Chief John Edwards.
“Brian Murphy, in my mind saved an untold number of lives,” Edwards said. “When you look back at the situation in regards specifically to the first responders, the incident was handled quickly and efficiently.”
When Murphy arrived on scene he rushed to the aid of victim outside the temple. The gunman opened fire on Murphy. He was shot 12 times, before fellow officer Savon (Sam) Lenda wounded the gunman and brought him down.
Murphy underwent throat surgery in late November to repair his vocal cords.
According to Edwards, Murphy is doing well. He has two bullets still lodged in his body and in addition to his neck injury; the thumb on his left hand is the most serious injury that remains.
“For what happened to him, he’s doing fantastic,” Edwards said. “It’s amazing, he really shouldn’t be alive, and he’s said that to me numerous times.”
While no one could predict the tragedy that occurred on that day, no one could predict how the Oak Creek community would come together in the aftermath either.
“The incident has really made our community stronger, and Mayor Scaffidi was a big part of that,” Edwards said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. The mayor was very aggressive in reaching out to the Sikh community; letting them know we were there for them. He didn’t just put it aside, he put up a display in our city hall explaining who the Sikh community was and he pushed education, tolerance and understanding of diversity in our community. I don’t think anyone has seen a community come together quite like our community did.”
“It defines the word community,” Scaffidi said. “We truly have a group of people who have illustrated such kindness and compassion towards individuals who have been placed in such an unthinkable position. It is very heartening to see how this community cares about each other. It has made the transition after this tragedy so much smoother. I’m very proud of us for that.”
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