Every day we ask men and women who wear a uniform and put on a badge to protect us from ourselves. Granted, most of us are law abiding good people. People who respect the authority given to those who have taken an oath to protect and serve.

However, there are times when our law enforcement officers need more than a pat on the back from "we the people".

Sunday morning a Baton Rouge police officer encountered a man sleeping in his car on Harry Drive in the city. According to a report by WBRZ Television, the sleeping man had in his possession cocaine and syringes. This is what prompted the officer to remove the man from his vehicle and to attempt to place him under arrest.

As the man, 28-year-old Thomas Bennet, was exiting the car he managed to grab the officer's baton while the officer was attempting to place him in handcuffs. Bennet then began to hit the officer in the head with his own baton. That is when 56-year-old Vickie Williams-Tillman sprang into action. That's Vickie picture on the right in the photo above.

She made a call for more police. She then risked her own life and jumped on the man's back and helped the officer control the suspect until backup officers arrived. Bennet eventually had to be tasered to be subdued.

In a Baton Rouge Police Department Facebook post the department made these comments.

For going above and beyond in that moment to help our officer and possibly save his life we are forever grateful to you Ms. Vickie!

According to a report published on NOLA.com and in the Times-Picayune Bennet was charged with aggravated battery, disarming a police officer, resisting an officer with violence, possession of cocaine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

 

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