Fort Worth Officer Recalls Saving Colleague's Life
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FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) - The officer who was shot five times pursuing a fugitive in March and the officer who helped save him talked about the fateful day Friday at the Bob Bolen Public Safety Complex in Fort Worth.
Brandi Kamper said it was a miracle that led her to officer Matt Pearce's side as he fought for his life.
"I don't think we can discuss this without talking about God because this is a miracle," said Kamper.
Kamper had to come into the office on her day off that day to have a button on her radio repaired.
She heard over the air police chasing an armed fugitive in west Fort Worth.
"I heard Matt's voice on the radio and I was like, 'Go Matt'," said Kamper. "And we heard gunshots on the radio."
Kamper grabbed a special medical bag designed for such situations that happened to be on her desk and jumped in with a SWAT unit heading to the scene.
Her fellow medical instructor was shot five times in the face, torso and leg.
"I kind of ran through a forest and made it over the fence and there was Matt" said Kamper as she fought back tears. "So I wasn't expecting what I saw."
"I looked up and I saw her and I thought oh, thank God!" said Pearce. "Everything is going to be OK. We're going to get what we need to get, we're going to get it fast and we're going to get the heck out of here."
"I was just talking to Matt the whole time telling him, you know, you'll be fine," said Kamper. "We know what we need to do and will get you to John Peter Smith."
Pearce is scarred but alive, and both officers said their bonds are now more like brother and sister thanks to what Kamper calls the miracle that led her to Pearce.
"The fact that he taught this before," said Kamper ticking off the things leading up to being at her friend's side. "Me listening to the radio. The fact that my radio is broken. My medic bag being on my desk. The fact of me being at work that day!"
Kamper has been nominated for a national police award for her actions.
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