The seemingly tireless duo crossed in front of Jefferson's patrol unit. Jefferson drew his sidearm and yelled, "Stop! Police! Let me see your hands! Get on the ground!"

Officer Evan Wright chased after a gang member who fled and reached for his pocket while running. A flying tackle sent the two men into the middle of a residential driveway where some 20 guests were observing a quinceanera party in the front yard.

If as it's said there's no rest for the wicked, then it follows that the Sabbath day offers no respite for law enforcement. Certainly, the third Sunday of January 2011 adhered to that truth as three Kitsap County, Wash., Sheriff's deputies could attest.

Right smack in the middle of the kill zone, Sgt. Means figured tactical withdrawal was not an option—the shooter could nail him before he had a chance to get very far.

At the sound of Barksdale's commands, Kalahar spun the shotgun toward him and leveled it. As the man flinched, Barksdale's finger squeezed the trigger of his gun—repeatedly.

For our 100th "Shots Fired" article, I'm going to step outside the normal formula of our concept and talk about some things I've learned and some heroic officers I've had the honor of interviewing.

No sooner were the words out of Schoen's mouth than he observed the shooter coming down the ladder in front of the house and walking toward his patrol car. He heard his K-9, "Falco," barking at the man from his back seat kennel.

Howell leaned forward in pain, his ballistic vest rode up on his torso. A second round tore through his driver's side door, passed through his seat, and struck him in the back. Like the first, this round passed through Howell before striking Jones in the face.

When Officer John Doogan and his partner arrived at the cottage house on Beveridge Street, all they knew was that it was a domestic call and that such calls took all shapes and forms. Neither officer knew just how out of control things had gotten before their arrival and how bad things were about to get.

Belmontez raised the knife and charged at the officers with rapid steps. That the man had a wooden leg had already been made known to Brown. What he didn't expect was that the 250-pound man had long ago become accustomed to walking with it.