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Officers commended for response to explosion in Nashville: 'They are heroes'

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Metro Police have identified the six officers who first responded to the scene of the downtown explosion Christmas morning.

City officials say these officers showed up to a "shots fired" call on 2nd Avenue around 5:30 a.m. Upon arrival, an RV on the street played a recording and countdown, saying the vehicle contained a bomb and warning everyone to leave the area. The officers helped several people evacuate before the RV exploded shortly after, around 6:30 a.m.

"They immediately began knocking on doors, not knowing when the bomb would go off," Chief John Drake said at a press conference Saturday night. "They didn't think of themselves...they thought of the citizens of Nashville. They saved lives today, and their heroism should be noted."

  • Officer Brenna Hosey
  • Officer James Luellen
  • Officer Michael Sipos
  • Officer Amanda Topping
  • Officer James Wells
  • Sergeant Timothy Miller

Mayor John Cooper commended the officers as well.

"They took swift action, directed people away, even when their own lives were in peril. This is a year we understand what first responders mean to our community time and time again."

This story was originally published by Kelsey Keny at WTVF in Nashville, Tennessee.