Left to right -
HPD Supervising Lt. Eldon Harris
Norma Smalley
HPD Officer Wade L. Smalley
Greg Walker, Esq., ARM, CPP
Shelly Molina, HPD Awards Coordinator

On May 17, 2007, at 1128 hours, Officer Wade L. Smalley was dispatched to a robbery in progress call at the Wells Fargo Bank located at 11725 S. Sam Houston Parkway. As Officer Smalley approached the vicinity of the bank, he observed a green late model sedan run the stop sign at the intersection of Dickenson Road and the southbound service road of the Gulf Freeway. He noticed that the black male passenger was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and had a mask over his face, which immediately raised his suspicions.

Officer Smalley determined that these were probably the Wells Fargo Bank robbery suspects, so he notified the police dispatcher and attempted to stop the vehicle as he already had his emergency equipment in operation. The suspects attempted to evade Officer Smalley’s attempt to stop them by increasing their speed. As the Officer pursued, the passenger extended his arm out of the vehicle and began firing a semi-automatic handgun at Officer Smalley. He swerved the patrol car onto a median to avoid being hit by the suspect’s bullets, but continued the pursuit. After U-turning and proceeding northbound on the Gulf Freeway service road, the suspect in the passenger seat climbed out onto the vehicle’s window sill and fired several additional shots at Officer Smalley, however he still continued his pursuit. The chase continued at a high rate of speed until the suspects drove into an apartment complex at 10909 Gulf Freeway and fled their vehicle on foot. With the help of several additional officers, canine units, a police helicopter, and the SWAT team, both suspects were later captured. It has been determined that these two individuals are responsible for at least eleven bank robberies in and around southeast Houston.

The capture of these two violent offenders may not have been possible if it were not for the courageous actions and perseverance of Officer Wade L. Smalley. Although Officer Smalley’s life was in danger at several points during the course of this incident, he reacted in a manner consistent with sound judgement and bravery.