Uhlig, Wiza, Schultz

In the early morning hours of April 23, 2021, Everest Metro officers responded to a call from a woman in the Village of Weston who reported that the man with whom she lives was off his medication and was boiling silverware. Officers were familiar with the residence and had responded to previous calls for mental health and domestic-related incidents, and therefore knew the residents by name. Officers Uhlig and Wiza arrived on scene at 3:36 a.m.

The officers engaged in conversation through the door of the residence, as the subject, David Morris, refused to open the door. Morris indicated that the officers were not needed in the apartment. Officers called out to the female, Renee Hindes, and asked if she could come to the door to speak to them. Ms. Hindes said that she could not, as Morris was blocking the door. Morris said that Ms. Hindes could climb out the window if she really wanted to speak to them.
The officers continued to engage Morris, trying to get him to let Ms. Hindes come to the door, but he refused. Suddenly, they heard Ms. Hindes begin to scream, so they attempted to gain entry by kicking and ramming their shoulders into the locked door, but they were unable to breach the entrance.

Officer Schultz then arrived with a sledgehammer and used it to breach the door. Once the doorknob was knocked off, Officer Uhlig could see inside the apartment and observed Morris standing near the door, holding a large kitchen knife, and Ms. Hindes lying on the floor, covered in blood.

Morris then came out of the apartment and advanced toward the officers in the common hallway of the building. The officers yelled at Morris to drop the knife, but he ignored their commands and continued his advance, knife raised and pointed toward the officers. Fearing for their own safety, all three officers discharged their firearms and Morris was struck several times and fell to the floor.

Officer Uhlig immediately began to provide aid to Morris while Officers Schultz and Wiza entered the apartment to assess Ms. Hindes. They found her deceased, with numerous stab wounds.

Officer Uhlig continued to provide aid to Morris by applying pressure to a significant leg wound until EMS arrived. He was transported to a local hospital and survived. Morris is currently awaiting trial for numerous charges, including First Degree Homicide.

Although Ms. Hindes tragically died at the scene, these three young officers acted quickly and according to their training to protect themselves and other officers from an advancing, knife-wielding subject.

For demonstrating great resolve and courage when confronted with this life-and-death situation, and for performing in a manner that was above and beyond the call of duty, WPPA presented the 2022 Award for Valor to Everest Metropolitan Officers Gunnar Schultz, Tanner Uhlig and Lucas Wiza.