Columbus Ambassadors win police award
May 21, 2004

Capital Crossroads Ambassadors Broderick Thomas and Randy Wingard recently found new meaning to the “safe” portion of their clean and safe charge. The two men were honored with the Columbus Division of Police's Meritorious Public Service Award May 21, 2004.

Their award recounted how while they were “just doing their jobs” last summer, when faced with criminal activity, they jumped to action and saved a busload of downtown riders from danger.

"I was off duty and heading to the store when a pedestrian came up to me," Thomas says. “The person recognized me [from being an Ambassador] and pointed out there was a guy with a gun” flaunting it near the High and Lynn streets bus stop.

Thomas says an old supervisor once told him, “You always take the job with you.” An Ambassador is always an Ambassador, and Thomas, who's always alert to what is happening on the streets, recognized the man with the gun from previous encounters and contacted shift supervisor Wingard.

Wingard informed all the Ambassadors to steer clear of the area and went to the area himself, while making a cell phone call to the two bicycle police officers whom he knew could handle this job quickly. Ambassadors have a direct link to the Columbus police bicycle officers who patrol Downtown, and Officer George Smith answered Wingard's call. He and Officer Fletch Farr peddled to the bus shelter within minutes. “A cruiser would've taken longer,” Wingard says.

The officers confronted the man, confiscated his loaded gun and arrested him. The twist: his gun was used in a homicide and two armed robberies. He's currently in prison.

Keeping Downtown one of the safest districts in the city is a goal of Capital Crossroads. In partnering with the Columbus Division of Police on instances like this, Ambassadors can be extra eyes and ears if suspicious activity is occurring within the SID.

 Smith and Farr appreciated the streamlined process of Wingard's call. “If the call goes through the radio room, they don't stay with the person,” Smith says of the busy dispatchers. Farr adds, “The Ambassadors can be standing there watching the person, giving a good description,” so the officers don't waste any time finding criminal activity.