Shelbyville, Indiana, police Chief Bill Dwenger presented the Carnegie Medal to Devin John Moore at a Sept. 24 presentation at Shelbyville City Hall.
Moore rescued a couple from burning in Waldron, Indiana, on Feb. 20, 2024.
Officer Moore, 38, was off-duty, driving nearby when he saw an accident and pulled over. About an hour before dawn, a vehicle had left a highway and crashed into a tree. Fire soon broke out with a 46-year-old man and a 44-year-old woman still inside. Flames intermittently flared, rising as high as 3 feet, and there was a small fire beneath the area of the front seats. Moore jogged to the opened front, passenger door as the man and woman called for help. Moore popped a side airbag with a knife as smoke filled the interior. He leaned inside, cut the man’s seat belt to grab him by the arm, and escorted the man out of the car. The man then stood, hunched over near the car as Moore ran around to the driver’s side.
Moore unsuccessfully attempted to open the driver’s door and break out the window. He returned to the passenger side as smoke issued through the open door and flames again flared at the hood. Fire burned on the floorboard near the woman as Moore opened a rear, passenger door and smoke billowed out of the car. Moore moved inside and was soon enveloped in smoke. He immediately retreated and returned to the front, passenger door to lean inside where he removed the woman’s seat belt, grasped her, and pulled her out of the car. The woman was unable to walk on her own, so Moore dragged her to the vehicle’s rear as flames grew and spread. The flames soon engulfed the vehicle as Moore pulled the woman farther away. Moore then guided the man away when he suddenly collapsed.
Despite efforts by Moore and first-responders, the man could not be revived and died at the scene. The woman was treated at a hospital for her injuries, including burns. Moore inhaled smoke and was treated for a persistent cough six days after the rescue. He recovered.
Moore was joined by, from left to right, Merit Commissioner Denny Ramsey; City Council members Mike Johnson and Chuck Reed; and Merit Commissioners Brad Ridgeway and Bill Kent.