Seven Denver police officers were honored Thursday for courage for their roles in a gun battle and car chase that played out like an action movie.
The January 2013 incident was all too real for Sgt. Robert Motyka, who received the Denver Police Department’s Medal of Honor. He continued to chase the suspects even after he had been shot through his car’s windshield.
“I had a front-row seat for that show,” Motyka said after receiving the award. “But it’s one I never want to see again. “
He added, “It’s still sometimes an emotional thing to go through.”
The Denver Police Foundation presented its annual awards during a ceremony at the Brown Palace Hotel. Besides Motyka’s Medal of Honor, others were awarded medals for valor, distinguished service and being wounded on the job.
The prestigious awards reflect the dangers that police officers often face while on the job, and they illustrate how their actions also can be controversial.
The incident that led Motyka and six others to receive medals also has resulted in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by one of the passengers, who says he was an innocent bystander and was shot in the back. Motyka also was one of four Denver officers named in a federal lawsuit over a warrantless raid that cost the city $1.8 million in damages and legal fees last fall.
The incident began in Thornton after one of the men had lost his infant the previous day in an accident. The grief turned into violence, which led to what was described as “the most dangerous rolling gun battle” in the department’s history, according to a video recount that was shown during the ceremony.
The suspects, who were in a pickup truck, were wanted in connection with shots fired at a teenager and a gun pointed at middle school students. Cpl. Damon Bowser spotted the pickup and the pursuit began.
As other officers joined the chase, two people inside the pickup began shooting.
Bowser described it this way in the video:
“I felt that terror of a shark being in the water and bumping up against you. It takes a minute to register — ‘They’re shooting at us.’ “
As the chase progressed, Motyka took the lead. A bullet blasted through his windshield. “I could feel all of these little pricks, a shower of glass, all over my face,” Motyka said. “Then I felt this burning, searing pain in my left shoulder.”
But Motyka stayed in the chase.
The chase eventually ended in a shootout after one passenger, John Montoya, reached into the truck’s cab and pulled out a gun. He was killed by police.
Another passenger, Chuck Montoya, was sentenced to 87 years in prison for his role in the shootout.
In the video presentation, Bowser shared his feelings about driving Motyka to the hospital afterward.
“I was scared for Bob and I was overwhelmed from the situation,” he said.
Bowser and five others were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for their roles in the incident. The others were Officer Peter Derrick, Officer Jeremy Olive, Lt. John MacDonald, Cpl. Karl Roller and Tech. Jeffrey Motz.
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Noelle_Phillips
Denver police foundation awards
Other Denver police officers who were honored Thursday for their heroism:
Officer Gerald Sloan Day
Sloan volunteers as a coach and mentor to disadvantaged youth and spent nearly $3,000 to buy his team new jerseys.
Officer of the Year
Det. Aaron Kafer, who worked as marijuana detective for the excise and license unit during the first year of legalization.
Purple Heart
Officer Anthony Tak, who needed surgery to repair tendon damage after a fight with a suspect.
Medal of Valor
• Tech. Jesse Rembert, who disarmed a robbery suspect who was a pointing pistol at a late-night LoDo crowd.
• Sgt. Justin Dodge, who shot and killed a suspect who had pulled a gun on officers during an undercover operation.
• Sgt. Jerry Heimbigner, who fired one shot to take down a suspect who shot his wife and a neighbor, who died from his wounds. The quick action likely saved the wife’s life.
• Retired Sgt. Jimmy Joe Gose, who was with Heimbigner and took charge at the scene to relay important information to other officers.
Distinguished Service Cross
Tech. Vincent Matthews, who shot and killed a man who had taken a woman hostage during a botched robbery.
