Tuesday, October 21, 2003 (Washington, DC) Two Washington DC area police officers who risked their lives to protect the public from a potentially dangerous situation involving a hand grenade were honored today as U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta and Federal Railroad Administrator Allan Rutter presented them the department’s highest award.

During a ceremony at Washington’s Union Station, Secretary Mineta presented the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Award for Heroism to Amtrak Police Officer Rodney Chambers and U.S. Capitol Police Officer Michael DeCarlo for their actions at Union Station in subduing a man brandishing what appeared to be a live hand grenade.

“The officers we honor today are part of a special breed who put their lives on the line to help others every time they come to work,” Secretary Mineta said. “These two faced their moment, and they did so heroically.”

“The courage, valor and vigilance of these professional police officers averted a potentially tragic event,” said FRA Administrator Allan Rutter. “We are fortunate and thankful that both Amtrak and the U.S. Capitol Police are represented by such outstanding individuals.”

On June 9, 2003, a man, holding what appeared to be a live grenade, attempted to rob a store in the Union Station complex. When the clerk refused to give the man money, he fled outside the station, where a private security guard noticed the grenade and summoned police.

Officer Chambers and Officer DeCarlo quickly responded and confronted the suspect, who then pulled the pin on the grenade. Notwithstanding the potentially imminent danger, Officer Chambers moved to hold the suspect’s hand around the grenade’s “spoon” to prevent it from detonating, while Officer DeCarlo subdued the suspect, allowing Officer Chambers to take possession of the grenade.

Officer Chambers was then able to carry the grenade far from the crowd that had gathered, holding it until a U.S. Capitol Police bomb squad arrived some 15 minutes later. Only after the incident was it discovered that the grenade had been purchased at an army/navy surplus store and was filled with a detergent-like substance.

Officer Chambers resides in Alexandria, VA, and has been a member of Amtrak’s Police Department for 3 years. Officer DeCarlo, a resident of Baltimore, MD has served with the U.S. Capitol Police since 1993.

The U.S. DOT Award for Heroism is presented for extraordinary actions, taken during the course of duty to save the life or lives of others. Since its inception in 1975, the award has been presented for only 28 acts of heroism.