Episode 146 - Nick Koahou

<p>As an officer with the San Bernardino Police Department, Koahou was one of the first responders on Dec. 2, 2015, when terrorists attacked the Inland Regional Center, killing 14 people and injuring 22 others.</p> <p>During a gun battle between police and the terrorists, Koahou left his position of cover to provide assistance to a fellow officer who was under heavy fire. Koahou sustained a bullet wound to his leg but continued to return fire at the suspects. After being treated for his injuries, Koahou refused to be evacuated and remained to assist until the other officer had been safely evacuated.</p> <p>Officer Koahou was awarded the Congressional Badge of Bravery in California, and the Public Safety Medal of Valor from President Trump. His Congressional Badge of Bravery Citation reads:</p> <p>On December 2, 2015, the Inland Regional Center in the city of San Bernardino, CA, was attacked by two assailants armed with assault rifles, resulting in the deaths of 14 and the wounding of 22 others. After the attack, the assailants fled the scene. Over the next several hours the investigation led officers to the neighboring city, where the assailants were located leaving their residence. As they drove away from the location, officers conducted a rolling surveillance. Officer Nicholas Koahou was assigned as an undercover narcotics officer for the San Bernardino Police Department and was a member of the surveillance team.</p> <p>Eventually, the suspects returned to San Bernardino, at which point a marked police vehicle joined the other officers who were surveilling the suspects. Almost immediately the back window of the suspect’s vehicle shattered as the surveilling officers came under rifle fire. The suspects continued to drive for a short distance further and then abruptly stopped their vehicle. The officers positioned behind the suspects stopped their vehicles a distance away to create space and take cover to return fire. Unwittingly, a sheriff deputy drove past the unmarked vehicles and stopped his vehicle in the “k