Deputy Josh Sanders Recognized for Courage Under Fire, LIVINGSTON,
June 30, 2017 - The East Texas Peace Officer’s Association recognized Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office with two different honors. Sheriff Hammack the 2nd Vice President of the Association presented Deputy Josh Sanders with the ETPOA Outstanding Peace Officer Award for his for his bravery under fire on March 7, 2017. Sheriff Hammack also presented Capt. Brent Phillips with the ETPOA Leadership Award.
On March 7, 2017 at 8:35a.m. Deputy Sanders was working patrol in Polk County, Texas and was assigned a threats call for service in a Polk County subdivision (
Click here for original story). Deputy Sanders responded to the residence which was occupied by one adult male, two adult females and three small toddler age children. The complainants had received information that an estranged ex-boyfriend was coming over to the residence and had been told not to. In the process he had made threats of violence when he arrived.
Deputy Sanders had completed his investigation and was about to leave the residence when the suspect arrived at the residence and pulled in behind Deputy Sanders vehicle. Deputy Sanders had attempted to approach the suspect when he opened fire on Deputy Sanders. Deputy Sanders took cover in front of his patrol vehicle and began returning fire. Gunfire between Deputy Sanders and the suspect continued for minutes. During this time Deputy Sanders was not able to reach out to dispatch through his handheld radio and initiated contact by cellular telephone and Bluetooth. Deputy Sanders remained on the telephone with dispatch during the shooting incident when the suspect pulled away from the residence.
Deputy Sanders gave chase in his heavily damaged patrol vehicle. The suspect attempted to return to the original residence as Deputy Sanders continued to pursue. With Sanders in pursuit, the suspect continued to flee in his vehicle away from the residence.
The suspect’s vehicle approached the entrance of the subdivision where he crashed with Deputy Sanders still in pursuit. Deputy Sander held cover over the suspect until more deputies could arrive where he was taken into custody.
The initial assessment of this incident is extremely frightening for law enforcement who would have encountered this exchange of gun fire and survive. Deputy Sanders held the line on March 7, 2017, standing between six innocent victims and their impending assault or possibly death. Deputy Sanders pursued this suspect and was able to take him into custody while using enormous restraint.
