OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — June 11, 2025 — Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Receives National Recognition for Heroic Response to 2024 Rochester Hills Splash Pad Shooting
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has received prestigious national recognition for its life-saving efforts during the tragic shooting at the Brooklands Plaza Splash Pad in Rochester Hills on June 15, 2024. The agency was awarded the Captain Frank Butler Casualty Care Award, an honor that highlights exceptional medical care delivered during a mass casualty event.
Presented last week at the 8th Annual North American Active Assailant Conference in Troy, Michigan, the award acknowledges the swift, skilled, and courageous actions taken by law enforcement and emergency responders during one of the most traumatic public incidents in recent Michigan history. The Rochester Hills Fire Department shared in the honor, recognizing the seamless coordination between both agencies.
A Day of Tragedy and Heroism
The 2024 shooting at the splash pad sent shockwaves across the community and the country. On a sunny afternoon designed for family fun, a gunman opened fire indiscriminately, injuring nine people, including three children. Chaos quickly ensued as families scrambled for safety. Amidst the panic, first responders rushed to the scene, delivering immediate care to those gravely wounded.
According to officials, five tourniquets were applied in the field—four of them by Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Joe Ashley, whose quick thinking and training are credited with saving lives. These actions exemplified the principles of tactical emergency casualty care, a field pioneered by the award’s namesake, Captain Frank Butler, a U.S. Navy SEAL and the founding figure of modern combat medical response protocols.
The shooter, a 42-year-old Shelby Township man, died by suicide shortly after the attack, leaving a community devastated but determined to heal and grow stronger.
Sheriff Bouchard Praises His Team
In accepting the award, Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard expressed pride and solemn reflection:
“I am incredibly proud of our team members and our partners at the Rochester Hills Fire Department,” Bouchard said. “Their actions, in my opinion, saved lives on that fateful day. We hope and pray to never experience such tragic events, but in our line of work, that is not a viable strategy; preparation is our strategy. In this instance, it proved its worth.”
Sheriff Bouchard was also one of the featured speakers at the conference, which is recognized as the largest global event dedicated to enhancing emergency responses to active violence incidents. More than 1,500 public safety professionals from across North America attended, including first responders, tactical medics, law enforcement officials, and federal agency representatives.
A Model for Future Emergency Response
The recognition serves not only as a tribute to the bravery and professionalism displayed by Oakland County responders but also as a reminder of the importance of preparedness in a world where active assailant incidents are an unfortunate reality. The integrated, real-time coordination between the sheriff’s deputies and fire personnel reflected an exemplary model of tactical casualty care that other agencies can learn from.
The Captain Frank Butler Casualty Care Award is a high distinction in the field of emergency medicine and tactical operations, and this year’s honor to Oakland County underscores the critical importance of training, preparation, and interagency collaboration.
Honoring the Victims and Looking Forward
While the award celebrates the heroism of the responders, officials emphasized that it also serves to honor the victims and their families. The memory of that tragic day remains fresh in the hearts of the Rochester Hills community, but so too does the resolve to be better prepared, better trained, and more united in the face of adversity.
As Sheriff Bouchard noted, the hope is never to face such a situation again—but if it does come, Oakland County stands ready.
For more information on emergency preparedness or to support the victims of the 2024 Rochester Hills Splash Pad shooting, community members are encouraged to contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office or visit their official website.