Officer injured in fire returns to duty

Photo

Warren Patrolman Doug Hipple

By Ed Runyan

runyan@vindy.com

WARREN

Doug Hipple, the Warren police officer who was badly injured when he entered a burning house on Bonnie Brae Avenue Northeast on April 28, 2009, in an attempt to rescue three women, has returned to police work on a limited basis.

Hipple returned to duty Christmas week and spent the first two weeks getting updates to his training in areas such as report writing and policies and procedures.

This week, he transferred to the investigative division and is being trained in property and evidence handling, said Capt. Janice Gilmore, head of the division.

His work hours so far are limited to about four per day and will be readjusted according to the recommendations of his doctor, Gilmore said.

“We’re trying to bring him back in a reasonable way because he wants to work,” Gilmore said.

Hipple said he did not want to comment on his return to work. But Chief Tim Bowers said he’s “thrilled to death he’s back. He’s not 100 percent yet, but we look forward to him becoming that.”

U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, called Hipple “one of our Valley’s finest and a genuine American hero” when Hipple was honored at the White House in May with the TOP COPS Award given by the National Association of Police Organizations.

“Last April, Officer Hipple placed his fears aside as he unselfishly sought to save the lives of residents trapped inside a burning house — actions that endangered his very life,” Ryan said at the time.

While on duty, Hipple was flagged down about 3:20 a.m. by a newspaper carrier who said there was a fire on the porch of a home just north of Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital.

Hipple went into the home, roused the three sleeping women and attempted to lead them to safety.

Hipple and the three residents were unable to escape through the first-floor exits, went back upstairs and were trapped. They were rescued by firefighters about 20 minutes later, all in critical condition.

Hipple, who suffered burns and smoke damage to his lungs, returned to light-duty work with the police department once before, for several weeks in December 2009.

Two of the women injured in the fire, Sheree Egry, 53, and Donna Cassidy, 52, were eventually released from the hospital and placed in a new home. The third woman, Melissa Watson, 44, died from her injuries.

Because the fire was intentionally set, Watson’s death was ruled a homicide. No arrests have been made.