ALEXANDRIA — Sgt. Dan Wittrock is glad he didn't have to shoot an armed bank robbery suspect Jan. 18.

        Sgt. Wittrock, of the Alexandria Police Department, is one of seven officers who will be receiving awards tonight for their bravery in a roadside standoff with the fugitive. The awards, the first in the city for bravery, will be given at the 7 p.m. Alexandria City Council at the city building, 400 W. Main St.

        The awards are in connection with the Jan. 18 incident in the parking lot at the AmeriStop convenience store on U.S. 27 in Alexandria. There, James M. Kirk, 46, of Shelbyville, shot himself after eluding police in the city and unincorporated Campbell County.

        Mr. Kirk's death ended a six- hour crime spree and chase that started with a robbery of the Kentucky Bank in Paris and continued through at least five counties in four stolen vehicles.

        “Actually, I thank God (Mr. Kirk) took his own life and that we didn't have to,” said Sgt. Wittrock, a 12-year veteran of the Alexandria police force.

        Two officers — Kevin Mathews of Alexandria and Van Kowolonek of Campbell County — will receive a Silver Star tonight. The other five — Sgt. Wittrock, Lt. Col. Joe Alexander, Sgt. George Schreiner and Officer Jim Sticklen of Alexandria and Officer Mike Hutchison of Cold Spring — will be given the Meritorious Award.

        Campbell County Police Sgt. Stephen Ellison was shot in the incident and returned to duty in February. He is not being honored tonight because his injuries occurred outside Alexandria city limits.

        The officers who will be honored are humble about receiving the awards.

        “I'm glad people are recognizing us for it,” Sgt. Wittrock said. “But it's our job.”

        Officer Hutchison agreed it's important to keep things in perspective.

        “When it's happening you're thinking, "I have a job to do,'” Sgt. Wittrock said. “(A suspect's death) is a big deal; it's a huge thing in an officer's career. At the same time, it's something you might have to do every day.”

        In the more than 10 weeks since the shooting, officers involved have had time to think about their roles.

        The memories vary. For Officer Kowolonek, it was the hospitality.

        He was traveling southbound on U.S. 27 when he saw Mr. Kirk's northbound vehicle. He turned around and chased Mr. Kirk to the end of Yellowwood Court in the Woodstone subdivision, where Mr. Kirk fired at him, missed and escaped.

        “After I was shot at in the subdivision, the people treated me well,” Officer Kowolonek said. “One man came out with a baseball bat to help me. Everybody in that cul-de-sac came out and asked if I was all right.”

        Officer Hutchison arrived at the AmeriStop at about the time Mr. Kirk was stealing a car at a nearby carwash. He ended up blocking the entrance to the AmeriStop parking lot with his cruiser when Mr. Kirk committed suicide.

        “I heard a couple shots,” Officer Hutchison said. “I thought it was on (the officers). I was 30 yards from (Mr. Kirk's) vehicle, but it seemed like 10 feet.”

        Officer Mathews said the incident was a matter of his training taking over.

        “It's an honor,” he said of tonight's ceremony. “But the way I looked at it initially was, we were there. Everybody was doing what they were supposed to be doing. You were reacting to what was presented.”

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