Cop Saves Woman Who Mouthed ‘Help Me’ At Traffic Stop After She Was Kidnapped By A Shooting Suspect

Jul 26, 2023 by apost team

A police officer is a warranted law enforcement employee of a police force. Police officers serve to maintain law and order in the community by protecting members of the public and their property. They also help to prevent crime, reduce the fear of crime, and improve the quality of life for all citizens. Law enforcement is one of the main elements of criminal justice, carried out through policing.

There are four main categories of police officers in the United States: federal, state, county and municipal. According to Law Birdie, the different categories of police officers apply four operation models: community policing, intelligence-led policing, problem-oriented policing and traditional policing. Police departments across the country use these models differently depending on the local area they are applying them to and the nature of their service. 

Also, these four models have a unique set of demands for police officers and the people who are recipients of their service. Therefore, police officers and the public need to have a grounded knowledge of the different policing models to understand law enforcement.

Regardless of whatever policing model is taken up by a police officer, the spirit of service is the most essential ingredient for officers. In a funded research project entitled Hiring in the Spirit of Service, the U.S. Department of Justice identified specific core skills for police officers, including the capacity for empathy and compassion, the ability to demonstrate courage and take responsibility, the ability to use good judgment to solve problems, etc. 

On May 28, 2023, one of those core skills came into play when a police officer, Kayla Wallace, of the North Myrtle Beach Police Department, rescued a woman who had been kidnapped by a man wanted for a shooting.

On June 7, 2023, the North Myrtle Beach Police Department shared a Facebook post detailing a May 28 arrest due to a traffic violation. The arrest on Highway 17 in North Myrtle Beach started when Wallace pulled over a white Jeep for running the red light. On approaching the car, she noticed two occupants; a distressed female driver and a male passenger.

"As she spoke with the vehicle's occupants, she noticed the driver appeared distressed," the post read. "While the male passenger wasn't looking at the driver, the female silently mouthed 'Help Me' repeatedly."

Wallace immediately recognized the woman's silent cry for help and acted swiftly. She removed the man from the Jeep, placed him in her patrol car and returned to speak to the distressed driver. The driver revealed that the suspect had just shot someone and had compelled her to drive the getaway car at gunpoint. She stated that she was terrified and failed to notice the red light. Moments later, a "Bolo" prompt over the radio confirmed the distressed driver’s claims. The post explained further:

"Moments later, a "Bolo" (Be On the Look Out) was sent over the radio from dispatch regarding a vehicle that was just involved in a shooting in the county."

The suspect, 29-year-old Collins Bates, was arrested because Officer Wallace was doing her job, despite being 30 minutes away from ending her shift. The post ended with praise for Wallace for doing a thorough job.

"Our department and our community is lucky to have Officer Wallace. Great Job!"

In an interview with CBS News, Officer Pat Wilkinson revealed that a pistol was found under the car seat where Bates sat. Bates is facing charges of attempted murder, kidnapping and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in connection with a shooting.

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What do you think of Officer Kayla Wallace rescuing a woman during a traffic stop? What are your thoughts on how she handled the situation? What do you think of her ability to use good judgment to solve problems? Let us know, and be sure to pass this article on to friends and family members.