MEDAL OF COURAGE: Stopped attempted attack with knife
On April 11, 2019 at about 3:30 p.m., Deputy Zachary Bieker was dispatched to a bank in Yorba Linda for a call of a man with a knife. Bank employees had advised dispatch the subject was threatening them with a knife and was demanding access to a vault area. They also reported they believed the suspect was under the influence of drugs.
Deputy Bieker was the first deputy to arrive. Bank employees were on the phone with Dispatch stating the subject was advancing toward employees with a knife. Believing the bank employees were in grave danger, Deputy Bieker entered the bank alone and engaged the suspect in an effort to prevent him from stabbing or killing the bank employees.
As Deputy Bieker entered the bank, the suspect had a knife in his hand and was quickly advancing toward a group of employees who were trapped in the corner of the bank. Recognizing the employees were in danger, he confronted the subject and ordered him to drop the knife and get on the ground. The male subject briefly turned toward Deputy Bieker before letting go of the knife and dropping to his knees. According to bank employees and patrons of the bank, Deputy Bieker’s decisive action and command presence saved their lives.
Deputy Bieker received the Medal of Courage for his actions that day.
