Hillcrest Heroes Bruiser and Company: Not in Our Back Yard click photo to enlarge

Criminals should think twice before they run from the law in Hillcrest, where even the neighbors' dogs participate in community policing. On the morning of Sept. 22, Bruiser, a muscular tan and white American boxer, and his owner, Spencer Fisher, became heroes in their own back yard.

Officers Efrain Soto and Carol Dillard, of the 6th District Metropolitan Police, had just made a traffic stop that turned into a foot chase through Hillcrest, usually a quiet neighborhood in Southeast. After the stop, the passenger, armed with a handgun, jumped out and fled while the driver sped away. The police officers, shouting, "He's got a gun," pursued the man on foot through streets, alleys and back yards of Hillcrest. Running through an alley, the suspect made a break for the street, climbing a fence and cutting through a back yard.

The yard, as luck would have it, was the domain of Bruiser, who has strong feelings about intruders. He was indoors at the time, having just finished a walk with his owner, Fisher. Hearing the commotion, Fisher looked out his kitchen window and saw the man climb the fence into his yard, then trip over flower boxes, dropping the gun. Fisher released a very anxious Bruiser into the yard, ordering, "Get him," hoping to delay the man long enough for officers to apprehend him. Bruiser reached the fugitive as he began scaling the gate, grabbed a pant leg but was a little too late to get a good grip. Seeing that the man was about to escape, Fisher decided to take action himself. He tackled the man as they went over the gate into the front yard, then held him until officers arrived.

After a faulty landing going over the fence into Fisher's yard, Officer Soto sprained his ankle. He witnessed Bruiser's assault on the suspect, then Fisher's tackle and realized how important it was for him to leave the yard quickly so as not to become the next object of Bruiser's wrath. Warning other officers to stay out of the yard, Soto painfully made a beeline for the gate and managed to escape the yard just in time, joining Fisher and the fugitive on the other side.

"Bruiser was quite agitated by this time, and I appreciate Officer Soto not putting him in danger," Fisher said.

"In my 12 years with the 6th District, I have never seen a citizen put his life in danger to assist a police officer," Soto said. "Although we discourage citizens from taking actions like Fisher did, it's good to know that heroes are still out there."

Fisher would not take credit for his bravery, calling his actions normal under the circumstances and giving all the credit to the police officers. "Every morning, a lady walks her grandchildren to Ann Beers Elementary School through that alley," Fisher said. "Just think of the consequences if this incident had taken place just a few minutes earlier. "Therefore, I want to thank Officer Soto, who injured his leg in the chase. Despite the injury, he never gave up. This officer is a fine example of what we want in our police officers."

We Hillcrest neighbors are extremely proud of all the heroes in this incident: Spencer Fisher for showing an exceptional level of civic involvement; Officers Soto and Dillard for enduring the long and, for Soto, painful chase and then handling the arrest scene so professionally; and Bruiser for being his fearless self.

In the dreaded Southeast Washington, good news stories usually aren't covered by the press, yet civic involvement and neighborhood pride are two factors that define Hillcrest and other nearby neighborhoods. It's a pleasure to report that Hillcrest is once again quiet and peaceful.

by Kathy Chamberlain
Special to The Washington Post
Thursday, November 2, 2000