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Published in the Arizona Republic - October 21, 2008
Paramedic who died in line of duty remembered for 'a swagger all his own'
Family and friends remembered a fallen Department of Public Safety officer Monday for his big grin and his dedication to his job during a celebration of his life at a Mesa church.
A bagpipe player and color guard led pallbearers in and out of Central Christian Church as they carried the casket of officer and paramedic Bruce W. Harrolle. His wife and two young children followed.
"Bruce approached life and all things with a smile and a swagger all his own," said Brad Bradley of the Northwest Fire District near Tucson, one of Harrolle's best friends.
Bradley recalled the first time he met Harrolle, who drove toward a shooting call in an ambulance with lights and sirens blazing and yelled, "I love this job!"
Mourners took solace knowing that Harrolle, 36, died doing what he loved: helping people. On Oct. 13, he was attempting to load a stranded hiker onto a helicopter when he was struck and killed by its rotor blade near Sedona. The accident remains under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
Gov. Janet Napolitano eulogized Harrolle and presented a flag that flew over the state Capitol last week to his widow, Angela, of Mesa.
"It wasn't just his work, it was his life's work," Napolitano said, noting Harrolle's penchant for finding action at major calls throughout his nine-year career with DPS. She said he was the first DPS officer in eight years to be killed in the line of duty.
"It's clear he always stepped up when he was most needed," Napolitano said. "Every Arizonan was a little safer with Officer Harrolle in the skies."
DPS Director Roger Vanderpool said Harrolle would serve as a role model for future officers.
Harrolle completed more than 40 search-and-rescue missions this year.
"That image must be something like a Boy Scout, Superman, Dudley Do-Right and Ponch from CHiPs," a 1970s and '80s television show, Vanderpool said. "Bruce will live on in our hearts and memories forever."
Hundreds of police officers and firefighters from around the state attended Harrolle's funeral. Instead of traditional graveside ceremonies, there was a flyover, an aerial salute to Harrolle's career, at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.
The last DPS officer killed in the line of duty was Brett C. Buckmister, 27, a Mesa native who died in a traffic collision during bad weather near Page on March 21, 2000.
The last air unit involved in a fatality was Oct. 2, 1983, when helicopter pilot Thomas McNeff, 36, and paramedic Richard Stratman, 27, crashed during a rainstorm in Marana.
"He was a guy who loved to have fun," Bradley said of Harrolle. "He never had a bad day."
Published on KVOA News - October 20, 2008
An Arizona Department of Public Safety officer who once served the Tucson community as a paramedic was laid to rest in Mesa, AZ.
36-year-old Bruce Harrolle was helping two stranded hikers onto a helicopter near Sedona when the rotor blade struck the 9-year-veteran killing him instantly.
The monumental number of police, fire and EMS personnel from the Tucson area, who came to remember the life of Officer Harrolle doesn't surprise Rural Metro's captain Alan Williams. "And they're not here just because he's a fallen officer. They're here because just about everybody knew Bruce."
Support from all branches of Tucson area law enforcement traveled north for the services.
"It just shows you what Bruce brought to the table and how many people are affected by it," says Williams.
The husband and father of two started his career in Tucson as a paramedic in the mid 1990's. Capt. Mike Schwartz admired Harrolle's devotion.
"Bruce was a really neat guy because he did all three aspects being law enforcement, fire fighter and a paramedic," says Schwartz.
Family chose a Mesa aviation hanger for the site of the committal service because of Harrolle's passion for flying.
It's his "love for life" and dedication to helping others which Capt. Williams says set Harrolle apart. "Every once in a while I'd run into Bruce on a call and he'd kind of remind me why we were doing this, why we're here. He was one of the best partners I ever had."
Published on ABC15.com (KNXV-TV), AZ - October 16, 2008
Standing in front of the memorial for fallen servicemen, Department of Public Safety Director, Roger Vanderpool lamented adding another name to the wall of fallen heroes.
"I gotta admit," Vanderpool said, "I was truly hoping and praying I would get through the term without adding another name."
Bruce Harrolle died Monday evening while rescuing two hikers near Sedona.
Those who knew and worked with Harrolle say we was well trained -- the best.
DPS Aviation Adminstrator, Rich Thatcher said, "It's a loss to the department and the entire public safety community. Fire, and police because he was all of them at one point in his career."
DPS refused to comment specifically on the crash investigation, saying they were working with officials to determine exactly what lead up to the accident.
Thatcher said Harrolle died doing what he loved, saving others. "He dreamed of being a firefighter in school, and he was living his dream."
Arizona Department of Public Safety release
For those wishing to assist the family of DPS Officer/Paramedic Bruce Harrolle who was killed in the line of duty near Sedona on Monday, donations can be made at any Chase Bank. Simply visit a Chase Bank branch where deposits can be made to the Bruce Harrolle Account. The account number is: 2915063065. The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) helped establish this account.
Cards and notes of condolences to the family can be sent to:
To the Family of Officer Bruce Harrolle
Arizona Department of Public Safety
Post Office Box 6638
Phoenix, Arizona 85005-6638
“The Harrolle family would like to thank everyone for their gratitude and support during this difficult time. Bruce was the most amazing father and husband. The only thing that would keep him away from his family was his passion for his job. He will be truly missed by his family and friends every minute of every day and by all that encountered him,” said DPS Director Roger Vanderpool.
“The DPS officers who are also paramedics are some of the best trained people in the state. In the last year Bruce had completed 40 air rescue operations. He truly is and will always be a hero. He was making a difference and doing what he truly loved,” said Vanderpool.
Funeral services for Bruce Harrolle are pending.
DPS has also established a web page with additional information about Officer Harrolle at: azdps.gov/harrolle. This web page will be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
Published on AZCentral.com - October 14, 2008
Friends are mourning the death of a Department of Public Safety officer from Mesa who died during a mountain rescue Monday in Sedona when he was hit by a helicopter blade.
A DPS helicopter team was called to Bear Mountain to rescue two stranded hikers about 4 p.m.
One of the hikers had already gotten aboard the helicopter. DPS Air Rescue Paramedic Bruce Harrolle, 36, of Mesa was escorting the second patient into the chopper when he was struck by one of the helicopter's rotor blades and fatally injured.
Both hikers were flown to safety.
Harrolle's wife, Angela, declined to comment Tuesday when contacted at her Mesa home.
Vance Hummelgard, who has known Harrolle since they were 6, and was in the couple's wedding, said he still can't believe he's lost one of his best friends.
"I was just really kind of stunned," Hummelgard said from his Wilmington, Ohio, home. "It's like it's not even real."
"Its taken some time for the reality of it to set in deeper that he actually is gone. I never expected to, at 36, be saying goodbye to my friend."
As children, Harrolle and Hummelgard enjoyed soccer; Harrolle dreamed about becoming a firefighter.
"He was one of the few people who stuck with what they say they wanted to do as a child," Hummelgard said. "He just loved helping people out. He had a great appreciation for all he had in life."
Harrolle recently purchased an airplane and was hoping to begin flight lessons soon.
"He just liked the freedom to be up (in the air)," Hummelgard said. "If he wanted to take his kids somewhere for the weekend, he could do it on a whim and not worry about it."
Most important to the nine-year DPS veteran was his wife and two children.
"He had a great life," Hummelgard said of Harrolle, who was based out of Flagstaff.
Investigators from the department and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office have begun conducting an investigation into Harrolle's death.
The DPS Special Investigations Unit is also investigating, as are officials with the National Traffic Safety Board.
"This is a very trying and emotional time for the family, the friends of the officer, the DPS family, as well as the law enforcement and emergency medical community," DPS officials said in a statement.
The last DPS officer to die in the line of duty was March 2000.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
Published on Verde Independent - October 14, 2008
At about 3:18 p.m. Monday afternoon, an Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer/Air Rescue Paramedic Bruce W. Harrolle was killed while performing a rescue of two stranded hikers 1.5 miles northwest of Doe Mountain and 1.5 miles southeast of Bear Mountain west of Sedona.
The incident occurred after the DPS Ranger helicopter based in Flagstaff responded to a request from the Sedona Fire Department and the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office to assist with a search and rescue of two stranded and dehydrated hikers.
Harrolle and a pilot were aboard the helicopter.
"While they were performing the rescue, they were able to get the male subject into the helicopter," according to DPS Lt. James Warriner. "While trying to put the female patient into the helicopter, something happened that caused the paramedic to get struck by a rotor blade, resulting in his death."
Warriner said the pilot was able to go ahead with the rescue and get the stranded hikers off the mountain.
Mountain rescues are very dangerous, Warriner said, "because typically they're working off one skid or both skids or just barely on the rocks or wherever they decide to move."
The DPS Special Investigations Unit is investigating the aviation accident. The National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) will conduct their investigation as well.
Officer Harrolle, 36, was a nine-year veteran of DPS and is survived by his wife, two young children and his parents.
Prior to the Sedona incident, DPS had not lost an officer in the line of duty since March of 2000.
Published on FOX11AZ - October 14, 2008
SEDONA -- A Department of Public Safety paramedic was killed Monday when he was struck by a helicopter blade while rescuing stranded hikers in Sedona.
NTSB to investigate According to DPS, Bruce W. Harrolle, 36, was assisting in the rescue of two lost and dehydrated hikers near Bear Mountain in the Sedona area.
Harrolle was on the ground apparently attempting to escort the hikers to an awaiting helicopter.
According to the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office, one of the hikers was able to enter the helicopter safely. As Harrolle was guiding the second hiker toward the helicopter, he was struck by a rotor blade and killed.
The second hiker was not injured and both were flown from the area to safety.
Harrolle was a nine-year veteran of DPS and is survived by his wife, two young children and his parents.
The DPS Special Investigations Unit and the National Traffic Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating.
Prior to Monday's incident, DPS had not lost an officer in the line of duty since March 2000.
Published on KTAR News - October 14, 2008
The Arizona Department of Public Safety has lost its first officer in the line of duty in eight years during a rescue of two hikers near Sedona.
Medic Officer Bruce Harrolle, 36, was helping rescue two hikers from Bell Rock Monday when he was struck and killed by a helicopter rotor blade.
Harrolle and a pilot were aboard the helicopter.
"While they were performing the rescue, they were able to get the male subject into the helicopter," said DPS Lt. James Warriner. "While trying to put the female into the helicopter, something happened that caused the paramedic to get struck by a rotor blade, resulting in his death."
Warriner said the pilot was able to go ahead with the rescue and get the stranded hikers off the mountain.
Mountain rescues are very dangerous, Warriner said, "because typically they're working off one skid or both skids or just barely on the rocks or wherever they decide to move."
Harrolle, who lived in Mesa, had been with DPS for nine years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
"This is really something that hits us all -- not only our agency, but it goes out to all the law enforcement community and the rescue and fire services. This is tough for all of us," Warriner said.
The National Transportation Safety Board will join local authorities in an investigation of the incident.
Published on ABC15.com - October 14, 2008
The wife of a DPS Flight Paramedic who was killed Monday by a helicopter roter blade spoke Tuesday about her husband and the job he loved.
"He was the safest, most cautious, most compassionate man I know," said his wife Angela at their home in Mesa.
"He died doing what he loved. He wouldn't have wanted to go any other way."
According to DPS, 36 Bruce Harrolle, a Department of Public Safety Ranger Flight Paramedic, was killed in Sedona at about 4 p.m. while helping escort two stranded hikers near Bear Mountain to a helicopter.
One of the hikers entered the chopper safely.
Harrolle was attempting to assist the second hiker get into the helicopter when he was struck by a rotor blade and killed, officials said.
The second hiker was not hurt.
Harrolle also leaves behind two children, ages two and four.
"He loved to fly," Angela said. "He knew it was dangerous but you never think it will happen."
Funeral arrangements are pending.
In Memory of Arizona DPS Officer/Paramedic Bruce Harrolle
1972-2008
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