Officer Danita Marsh today was named the Metropolitan Police Department’s Patrol Officer of the Year for 2006 and visited the North Precinct Station for the first time since she was ambushed and critically wounded while assisting a domestic assault victim on October 27, 2006.
Officer Marsh, who suffered life-altering injuries as she worked to make North Nashville a safer place, came to today’s awards ceremony in a wheel chair and received a standing ovation as she entered the room.
“Danita is a true inspiration to all of us in this police department,” Chief Ronal Serpas said. “Her courage and determination are amazing and encouraging.”
Officer Marsh, a three-year veteran of the department, was callously and cowardly attacked as she assisted domestic violence victim Danielle McDowell.
As the two women talked in Officer Marsh’s marked police car, McDowell’s boyfriend, convicted murderer Willie Lindsey, ambushed them by opening fire with two guns. Although critically wounded, Officer Marsh was able to fire at least two rounds in an effort to protect McDowell and herself. Lindsey was captured a few hours after the shooting in Benton County.
Officer Marsh is presently paralyzed from the waist down.
As Officer Marsh continues to recover from her gunshot wounds, the 100 Club of Nashville has committed to help her regain some of life’s basic choices by financing the purchase of accessible housing and a specially equipped vehicle.
The 100 Club was founded by the late Bill Trickett and the late John T. Johnson 27 years ago to aid the families of Nashville’s police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty, as well as officers and firefighters who receive serious, traumatic and disabling injuries while working to protect our community.
Persons wanting to make a tax deductible contribution to assist Officer Marsh are urged to make checks payable to the 100 Club of Nashville and include the Marsh name on the memo portion. One hundred percent of the money donated will go to the Marsh fund.
Checks can be mailed to The Hundred Club of Nashville, P.O. Box 190428, Nashville, Tennessee, 37219-0428.
Chief Ronal Serpas presents the Patrol Officer of the Year Award to Officer Danita Marsh
Pictured (l-r) are Chief Ronal Serpas, Officer Marsh, Nurse Brittany Hill, and Officer Marsh’s mother, Vivian
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