Watch: Police Honor Citizens Who Aided Officer After Houston Harte Crash

SAN ANGELO, TX — San Angelo police on Friday recognized three residents who stopped to help a motorcycle officer after he was seriously injured in an on-duty crash August 19. 

Officer Shawn Holder, assigned to the Traffic Division, was riding on Houston Harte Expressway when his motorcycle malfunctioned, put liquid on the tires, and crashed, Police Chief Travis Griffith said. 

Amber Lange, Kevin Ernhart and Cody Miller stopped and assisted him until first responders arrived. Holder has made a full recovery and returned to duty.

“Normally, people just avoid that and keep going about their day,” Griffith said. “But we have three citizens that we want to highlight.”

Griffith presented Lange and Ernhart with certificates of commendation and commemorative coins. Miller could not attend and will receive a certificate later. 

Ernhart, an off-duty firefighter, stabilized Holder’s neck and spine. Griffith said Ernhart kept “his neck and everything else intact” and performed what medics call C-spine care. 

Lange went into the roadway while cars were still moving and the extent of the injuries was unknown. 

“Amber again just stepped up, went out into a crazy hazardous environment,” Griffith said. 

Miller stopped, helped manage the scene, and later gave police information about the crash, Griffith said.

“By the grace of God and some wonderful civilians, we’re able to say that Officer Holder is 100% back at work and everything is good with him,” Griffith said. "We often talk about the partnership between law enforcement and the community we serve. Amber, Kevin and Cody demonstrated exactly what that partnership looks like. Their compassion, courage and willingness to help someone in need reflect the very best of San Angelo. We are sincerely grateful for what they did for Officer Holder.”

Griffith said that in many places, no one would have stopped. 

“But in San Angelo, we had three brave citizens pull over and provide aid to somebody who needed it,” he said.