Kimberly Munley (PHOTO): The Hero Cop Who Ended The Fort Hood Rampage

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Kimberly Munley, the civilian police officer who confronted and shot the Fort Hood gunman, is being hailed as a hero today.

The base's top commander, Lieutenant General Bob Cone, credited her with stopping the shooting rampage that killed 13 people despite being wounded herself.

Cone added that Munley, who is 34, and her partner responded within three minutes of reported gunfire on Thursday afternoon. Munley had been directing traffic moments before she confronted the gunman, reports the New York Daily News.

The AP reports:

Base officials lauded an officer, Kimberly Munley, who shot the gunman and was wounded herself.

"She happened to encounter the gunman. In an exchange of gunfire, she was wounded but managed to wound him four times," Cone said. "It was an amazing and aggressive performance by this police officer."

The NY Daily News adds:

Munley was only a few feet from crazed Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan when she opened fire.

Wounded in the exchange of gunfire, Munley was reported in stable condition at a local hospital.

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The hero cop spent Thursday night phoning fellow officers to let them know she was fine and to find out about casualties in the attack - the deadliest ever on a military base in the U.S., Cone said.

An MP at Fort Hood provided more details about Munley's injuries to the Killeen Daily Herald:

Sgt. Andrew Hagerman, a Fort Hood military policeman, escorted in a police car the first ambulance on scene. That ambulance would transport Kimberly Munley, the first officer to respond who shot the suspect, Maj. Malik Hasan.

Munley was shot, too, and Hagerman said it was in the upper leg and thigh region. He didn't know how many times Munley was shot, he said today.

CNN adds that a bio blurb on Twitter for Kim Munley of Killeen, Texas, which is near Fort Hood, has a particular resonance:

"I live a good life ... a hard one, but I go to sleep peacefully @ night knowing that I may have made a difference in someone's life."

UPDATE: CNN talked to friends and neighbors of Munley, who is the mother of a 3-year-old girl. Respected for keeping her neighborhood safe, she once stopped burglars:

The police officer who ended the Fort Hood massacre by shooting the suspect was known as the enforcer on her street, a "tough woman" who patrolled her neighborhood and once stopped burglars at her house.

"If you come in, I'm going to shoot," Kimberly Munley told the would-be intruders last year.

More dramatic details about Munley, the 5'2" SWAT team member whose husband is a soldier at Fort Bragg, and her encounter with gunman Nidal Malik Hasan, courtesy of the Killeen Daily Herald:

Chuck Mevley told the Herald that they began receiving 911 calls at 1:23 p.m. Thursday and four minutes later Munley, who was in the immediate vicinity, was upon the suspect.

She saw the injured, scared people and when she rounded a corner in between two buildings, Mevley said, Munley fired twice at Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan and he charged towards her.

Munley and Hasan fired at each other at the same time, Mevley said. Munley was hit in the leg, wrist and torso. "She did what she was trained to do," Mevley said, adding that Munley is an exceptional individual.

Mevley, Fort Hood's director of emergency services, says that Munley took shots in the left leg and knee area -- which she called "minor scratches" -- and still needs surgery to remove bullets from her right side.

Comments

[mjschmitt]

To read Sgt. Todd's remarks to Anderson Cooper see: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/07/texas.fort.hood.first.responders/index.html

[mjschmitt]

Last night on Anderson Cooper CNN, Todd basically said he shot Nadel. Anderson looked confused, but did not further question Todd about this revealing new aspect to the story.

[armyvet]

This woman is NO hero. It was SGT Todd that shot Nidal and brought him down. This is another Jessica Lynch moment of truth

[skunky93]

She still went after him as she was trained to do and that makes her a hero. Firing the last bullet doesn't make someone grab a title.

[robbyJ]

They are both heros, who are you to say who isn't.

[armyvet]

The Hero is the young soldier who goes to a foreign land and fight and die for our freedom. This woman is No hero. I was there, it was SGT Todd, that brought him down. Munley was on the ground and helpless. Nidal fight on several people after being shout by Munley. After Todd shot him, it was OVER!!!

[armyvet]

Please, this woman is no hero. She was injured and was down. It was Officer Todd, that brought Nidal down. The media is doing it again, making a hero. Jessisa Lynch and Munley

[bobwalters]

Thanks for clarifying. I think BOTH officers are heros, as they both went straight for the shooter and confronted him directly, and exchanged fire with him. Whichever one's bullet(s) brought him down, they BOTH deserve credit and honor.

I agree with your disgust at the MSM trying to create another Jessica Lynch myth, but think Sgt. Munley should be honored, along with her partner, Sgt. Todd...they're BOTH heros.

[PathofTotality]

I agree!!!!!!!

[David J Smith]

Ms Munley:
To understand the reasoning for all of the responses to the heroism of your actions. Is to understand what a true hero really is. You could say you were just doing your job. For when you put that uniform on, and that gun in your holster, and badge on your shirt. Is that you are taking the oath, over and over again. The oath of, “sworn to serve and protect”. Every time a person is in distress, or trouble of some kind, they always call upon an officer in uniform.
Of the carnage that happen on that faithful day. That has left this nation, and its people asking the most horrific question, that anyone can ask, and that is “WHY”? There is probably no suitable or non-debatable reason for “WHY”. That is why, in people’s minds, that they look for the shining light in this horrific, monster like, and non-human actions that took place on that day. This is good against evil. In the end, good prevailed. No more lives were taken. You have earned the badge of HERO, Ms. Munley. This nation is in distress. How you respond to the people in distress, is your job. Wear your badge with honor. On behalf of me, and my family, “God Bless You”, and I hope for your speedy recovery.
Signed: Proud Citizen of the United States of America

[CrazedSurfer]

She like to surf and hunt too. Her husband is a lucky man.

[LifeIsBrief]

It's just a flesh wound!

-In Search of the Holy Grail

[Stilts9]

This is a brave women who did her job, and, in this harrowing circumstance, behaved heroically.

[sfirx]

The media makes me sick, because they are intentionally leaving out the other officer who shot this suspect. I want to see the other cop's picture, for some reason, I doubt he fits their image of a American Hero. The fact they are ignoring him leads me to believe he must be a member of a minority group.

[jimf1673]

I think it is unfair for you to assume everything you don't like must somehow have to do with racism. Until you know that is a fact then - enough already.

[sfirx]

You don't have to hate other groups just simply love your so much that you ignore the obvious. It's obvious that Sgt. Todd shot the major too, but he is not considered a hero and the media keeps propping Sgt. Munley up. I never said it's racism, because I doubt it is, but it sure is an example why it's important to have diversity in the media. Even the liberal websites continue pushing this lie.

[billgm42]

Apparently Sgt. Todd, her partner, was the person that finally dropped him:

http://www.dvidshub.net/?script=news/news_show.php&id=41224

"According to Todd, as soon as officers pulled up to the scene, people were pointing them in the direction of the shooter. Hasan reportedly started firing on Todd and Munley, who took cover behind a vehicle. Munley left her cover to pursue the shooter and Todd followed around the other side of the building, where the major was hiding.

When Todd looked around the corner of the building, he saw Munley on the ground. She had been shot. Hasan was hiding behind a light post and firing at people who were fleeing the scene. Todd recalls firing five shots at Hasan. The major fell. Todd then confiscated Hasan's weapons and cuffed him. The entire exchange between Todd and the gunman lasted less than 45 seconds."

Possible racism aside, I think the media isn't above hyping someone's role in the incident just to make the story more exciting.

[Tuckerndfw]

Oh, sure, it MUST be racism. . .

Racists make me sick.

She is in the spotlight because she chased a deadly suspect down & cornered him. And, got shot in the process (which is far more painful than getting shot in the application).

Officer Munley isn't heroic or brave because she shot a suspect, she is heroic & brave because she exposed herself to grave danger to eliminate a threat. .

What is heroic about shooting a suspect after your partner chases him down and corners him?

[Hontas Farmer]

Why do so many feel a need to minimize the achievements of a black man? Sgt. Todd the real Hero of last Thursday and his name likely will not move into national consciousness where it belongs.

As for officer Munley cornering him ... It does not sound like Maj. Hassan was very cornered at all. Her partner by going around back was covering Hassans other avenue of escape. Hassan shot her before she fired a shot, then was shot while reloading by Sgt. Todd.

[Smirk]

Thank goodness someone stopped him, and the fact it was a woman is even better.

[kcgeezer]

All the bankers,po­liticians, entertainers and sports stars we have do not measure up to this amazing lady. The police, fireman, teachers and other public servants deserve much more than we as a society give them. We need to stop idolizing the rich and look for what makes America great in people like her.

[flyribbon]

Will this brave American face any health care costs? She is a civilian not a member of the armed services.

Will she now have a pre-existing condition?

Will her injuries (shot in the right hand in particular) render her unfit for duty?

Bottom line: Has her bravery cost her? Would she have been (from an insurance point of view) better off ignoring the plight of others?

And what does all that say about us?

[JulieSA]

She's a civilian employed by the Army.

What does any of this have to do with anything?

[flyribbon]

Try read my post. Please try.

AND THEN TRY FIND SOME FACTS.

OK?

[Tuckerndfw]

She works for the Department of Defense as a contract MP.

She was injured in the line of duty. I'm quire sure she will be compensated far more handsomely than some privately contracted security guard who suffers the same fate while protecting shoppers at Walmart.

A private security person would likely have no insurance at all and his expenses would be taken care of by taxpayers. His future would be very bleak indeed.

[flyribbon]

Are you absolutely sure? Absolutely?

I fear that she might find herself unfit for duty and having a pre-exiting condition.

[Promise]

I hope Pres. Obama invites her to the White House when she can travel.

[flyribbon]

How much is this brave woman paid as compared to, let's say, a bailed out Wall Street banker?

Who do you think renders greater service to our nation?

How much is the "bonus pool" for citizens who place their lives on the line every single day?

Do you think bankers deserve their "bonus pool" - which seems to be largely tax payers money these days?