Positivity: Off-Duty Cop Thwarts Car-Jacking — Her Own

In Richmond, Texas, the score is Holly Mong 2, Bad Guys O (one permanently shut out, so to speak), and that IS a positive result:

Richmond Police Officer Wins National Recognition After Attempted Car-Jacking
Sep 18, 2006, 04 34 pm

In recognition for her heroic effort after being targeted by car-jackers in January, Richmond Police Officer Holly Mong has been chosen honorable mention recipient of the International Association of Chiefs of Police Officer of the Year Award for 2006.

On Jan. 31, two armed men muscled their way into Mong’s car while she was off duty. In a split-second move that may have saved her life, Mong shot both of them, killing one and seriously wounding another.

According to the Richmond Police Department, Mong was heading to an in-service police training class at 6:30 that morning. She got into her car at her apartment complex in Jersey Village and began putting some quarters into a cup holder to use later for a toll road.

A man dressed in black and wearing a ski mask pulled the driver’s side door open on Mong’s car, pointed a pistol at her and told her to move over to the passenger seat, Richmond police said in a statement accompanying the award announcement. As she moved over, another man dressed in black, also with a ski mask, got in the back seat of the car.

“As Mong climbed into the passenger seat, she realized that her service weapon was in her purse, which was sitting on the passenger seat at that time,” Richmond police said. “Without hesitation, Mong retrieved her pistol from her purse with her right hand and waited for both suspects to completely enter her vehicle.

“Mong then began firing her weapon. Firing over her shoulder, she shot the back seat suspect causing fatal injuries,” police said in the statement. “She also shot the driver, who sustained serious injuries.”

After realizing she was safe, she ran back inside her apartment to get help from her fiancé, a Jersey Village Police officer.

“She credits her training to helping her protect her own life in a time of extreme danger,” Richmond police said in announcing the award. “With her quick decision making and proper actions, Mong was able to protect herself from two armed gunman. The professionalism she showed with only six months’ experience is a great credit to her and police officers everywhere.”

Mong will be Travel to Boston in October to receive her award at the IACP conference.