DPD Presents Award of Valor

Officer Joshua Bethune was presented the DPD’s Award of Valor Tuesday in honor of his life-saving and heroic actions during an incident in January. The award is presented to a department member who, “conscious of danger and great risk of personal hazard to life, distinguishes themselves by intelligently performing an act of heroism or valor above and beyond the call of duty.”

The incident happened January 26th while Bethune was off duty. While driving, he came upon the scene of a traffic crash between a passenger vehicle and a tractor trailer. The passengers in the car were entrapped and the vehicle was on fire. Bethune rushed into action, working to free the driver from the burning vehicle. Once the driver was free, Bethune again attempted to enter the burning vehicle to help the passengers as emergency crews arrived. Thanks in part to his actions, there was no loss of life.

This is not Officer Bethune's first time earning high honors from the department for a life-saving effort. In August 2021, Officer Bethune was presented the agency's Life Saving Award along with fellow Officer Steven Herrera. That award came after the officers responded to a call on Straight Street where a woman was stabbed in the neck. The officers were able to control the victim's bleeding and kept her stable until EMS could arrive. The victim survived her injuries and the suspect was arrested a short time later. 

Officer Bethune joined the Dalton Police Department in 2018.