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GBPD SRO Paul Millard awarded Bronze Wreath of Valor by Wichita PD
millard wichita bronze award
Great Bend Police Department SRO Paul Millard holds the Bronze Wreath of Valor Award and a letter from Wichita Mayor Lily Wu, which were presented to him at the Nov. 17 Great Bend City Council meeting. They were presented by Wichita Police Department Detective Richard Rogers, left, and WPD Lt. Donald Moore, right. The award recognizes his heroic action on Aug. 8 when Millard, while off-duty and shopping at Towne East Mall in Wichita, responded to a shooting. - photo by photo by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune

School Resource Officer Paul Millard from the Great Bend Police Department was awarded the Bronze Wreath of Valor by the Wichita Police Department for his heroic off-duty action during a Towne East Mall shooting on Aug. 8. The award was presented during the Great Bend City Council meeting on Nov. 17.

“Due to your actions that day, not only were we able to get all three people into custody, but both juveniles that were shot survived, and all three juvenile suspects were all charged in district court, which is still pending,” said WPD Detective Richard Rogers. “It was your quick actions that day that helped us come in and get everybody medical attention and get people in custody as fast as we could. So I thank you for that.”

WPD Lt. Donald Moore presented Millard with a letter of gratitude from Wichita Mayor Lily Wu.

“Please accept my warmest congratulations on receiving the Wichita Police Department’s Bronze Wreath of Valor,” Wu wrote. “There’s a recognition that is most deserved and one that symbolizes our collective appreciation and admiration for your valor.”

Millard received a standing ovation from the city council and all in attendance as he came forward to accept the award.

The Bronze Wreath of Valor is the third-highest award given by the WPD for officers who demonstrate, “bravery, intelligence, or devotion to the duty, and who, in the performance of such acts or acts, shall be motivated solely by the desire to serve the city without thought of personal gain or advantage,” as outlined in WPD Policy 201.   

Around 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 8, Millard and his wife were leaving Towne East Mall after a day of shopping when they heard gunshots in the parking lot. Taking immediate action, Millard rushed to the scene, restrained a suspect and stopped the threat until the Wichita Police arrived. 

With 27 years of service at the Great Bend Police Department, Millard has spent the past decade as the SRO for the USD 428 School System. He also leads the department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program and has been a member of the bike patrol unit and SWAT team, as well as a supervisor throughout his extensive career.

In addition to this honor, Millard received national recognition as SRO of the Month by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) on Aug. 18.