Oakland Co. Sheriff's Officers Recognized For Saving Lives In Splash Pad Shooting

ROCHESTER HILLS, MI — Oakland County sheriff's officials received a national award for their quick response that saved lives in a random Rochester Hills shooting last year.

The agency and the Rochester Hills Fire Department were given the Captain Frank Butler Casualty Care Award for their efforts during the June 15, 2024, shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad.

The award was presented last week at the annual North American Active Assailant Conference in Troy.

The award noted that there were five tourniquets applied to victims during the emergency response to the shooting – four by Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Joe Ashley. Three children were among the victims. The gunman, a 42-year-old Shelby Township man, shot himself to death shortly after the shooting.

The conference is the largest event in the world dedicated to improving emergency response to active violence. The conference focuses on firsthand debriefings of past tragedies by representatives of the lead public safety agencies involved.

There were more than 1,500 people who attended the conference. Sheriff Michael Bouchard was among the featured speakers.

"I am incredibly proud of our team members and partners with the Rochester Hills Fire Department," Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. "Their actions, in my opinion, saved lives on that fateful day. We hope and pray to never experience such tragic events, but in our line of work, that is not a viable strategy; preparation is our strategy. In this instance, it proved its worth."

The award is named after Captain Butler, a medical doctor and a U.S. Navy SEAL who is recognized as the father of tactical combat casualty care.