Crime & Safety

Sunset Hills Detective Awarded Medal of Valor for Upholding Public Safety

Siscel has been a police officer for 30 years, including 12 with Sunset Hills. He served with the St. Louis Police Department

A Sunset Hills detective recently received a medal of valor for his quick actions during a robbery in progress in October 2011, according to a release from Gov. Jay Nixon's office.

Detective Sgt. Robert C. Siscel and Patrolman Dan Thompson responded to a 911 call about a home invasion/robbery then in progress on Oct. 26, 2011. Siscel immediately identified a masked gunman holding an elderly woman hostage at the rear of the house. Siscel alerted Thompson and, through the kitchen window, Thompson commanded the gunman to release the victim. The gunman released the woman but moved toward the family room. Siscel ran into the family room through the broken out glass sliding door as he identified himself as a police officer. The gunman entered the doorway between the kitchen and family room aiming his pistol at Siscel from a distance of 10 feet. Siscel ordered him to drop the gun.

When he did not, Siscel had no alternative but to use deadly force; he fired a single shot, incapacitating the gunman, who was taken into custody. Soon after, other responding officers arrested a second gunman outside the residence.

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Siscel and eight other emergency responders across the state attended a special ceremony on Oct. 11. Read about this year's other Medal of Valor recipients.


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