By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Paul Millard just wanted to use his day off to take his wife shopping in Wichita. The school resource officer with 27 years of service with the Great Bend Police Department ended up making headlines across the state. Millard and his wife exited Scheels at Towne East Mall just after 3:30 p.m. Friday. Millard heard at least four gunshots in close proximity and jumped into action.
"I've had plenty of training with the police department on how to react and how to respond," he said. "I heard the shots and told my wife to get to the car. I ran towards it, and as I got close, I saw a suspect putting a firearm in his bag. I pulled my firearm and told him to put the weapon down and get on the ground. He complied, and I held him at gunpoint until Wichita police arrived on the scene and took custody of him."
A 15 and a 17-year-old were taken to an area hospital with gunshot wounds, and were later reported to be in stable condition. The 17-year-old primary suspect has been charged with two counts of attempted murder, and two 16 year olds have also been arrested in connection with the shooting.
Though the shooting had stopped, Millard was still in the predicament of being an unknown officer with his weapon pointed at an individual. Fortunately, a witness on the phone with dispatch relayed Millard's description. Millard's wife did the same.
"When Wichita PD arrived on scene, they just went straight to the person who I had at gunpoint and was detaining," Millard said. "When they got their hands on him, I holstered my weapon."
Millard, who is entering a 10th year as school resource officer for each of the schools in the USD 428 Great Bend district, decided the incident would not spoil his trip. He and his wife enjoyed more shopping and dinner before returning home. Millard did not miss a beat in attending Saturday's Party in the Park s as a participant in the wet-dry parade and the GBPD dunk tank.
"I still had every intention of carrying out the duties at the Party in the Park celebration," he said. "There was no reason for me not to, and I enjoy the interaction with the community like that, so I had every intention of continuing that obligation."
There was Millard's reaction to a dangerous situation, then the public's reaction on Saturday. While Millard was still at Party at the Park, Great Bend Post release information that a Great Bend officer had assisted in the shooting. That post garnered nearly 400 likes and 145 shares. Several hours later, the GBPD identified Millard as the hero. That post earned more than 860 likes and 83 shares.
"Once it was released that it was the Great Bend Police Department, and once (Chief Steve Haulmark) put my name out there, it's blown up pretty big," said Millard. "A lot of people are calling me 'hero.' God put me in the right place at the right time, with the right skill set. I did what any officer, I would hope, would do who is off-duty. Whether I'm in my home community or another community, I'm going to respond and do to the best of my ability to protect whoever I can."