Pierce County Deputy Michael Cooney has been honored with the Washington's Most Wanted March Officer of the Month award.
Deputy Cooney exhibited bravery and very quick thinking when he captured the alleged Scarecrow Bandit, Daniel Wlodarzewski (a.k.a. the Hockey Mask Bandit). The Scarecrow Bandit got the name for the tan hood or sack with eye holes he wore as he allegedly terrorized tellers at eight banks around Pierce County.
Deputy Cooney, following where the K-9 unit had last tracked the suspect from a prior robbery at the same bank, went to the area he thought the Scarecrow Bandit would run to again. He noticed a man coming out of a retirement complex who did not fit in with that environment. The man got in a vehicle and Cooney proceeded to pull him over. According to Deputy Cooney, the man was extremely nervous, more so than an individual would behave in a normal traffic stop. Deputy Cooney spotted the sweatshirt that the Scarecrow Bandit was allegedly wearing during the robberies in the backseat of the vehicle. At that point, according to Deputy Cooney, Wlodarzewski broke down and confessed to the robberies and led Deputy Cooney to where he had dumped the gloves, mask and gun he used.
"I'll tell you this, we can have great policies, we can have great equipment, we can have great technology, but what it comes down to is smart, capable, motivated people who do the job like Deputy Cooney," said Pierce County Sheriff, Paul Pastor.
"This is a great community we work in, I really hate to see this happen. What really upset me too, was the day of the Lakewood Memorial service, he (Scarecrow Bandit) did rob a bank that day and I mentioned that to him. He was kind of in awe that we knew he did it. There was a little bit of guilt it seemed like from him," said Pierce County Deputy Cooney.
Deputy Cooney also serves as a School Resource Officer in the University Place School District.
Deputy Cooney exhibited bravery and very quick thinking when he captured the alleged Scarecrow Bandit, Daniel Wlodarzewski (a.k.a. the Hockey Mask Bandit). The Scarecrow Bandit got the name for the tan hood or sack with eye holes he wore as he allegedly terrorized tellers at eight banks around Pierce County.
Deputy Cooney, following where the K-9 unit had last tracked the suspect from a prior robbery at the same bank, went to the area he thought the Scarecrow Bandit would run to again. He noticed a man coming out of a retirement complex who did not fit in with that environment. The man got in a vehicle and Cooney proceeded to pull him over. According to Deputy Cooney, the man was extremely nervous, more so than an individual would behave in a normal traffic stop. Deputy Cooney spotted the sweatshirt that the Scarecrow Bandit was allegedly wearing during the robberies in the backseat of the vehicle. At that point, according to Deputy Cooney, Wlodarzewski broke down and confessed to the robberies and led Deputy Cooney to where he had dumped the gloves, mask and gun he used.
"I'll tell you this, we can have great policies, we can have great equipment, we can have great technology, but what it comes down to is smart, capable, motivated people who do the job like Deputy Cooney," said Pierce County Sheriff, Paul Pastor.
"This is a great community we work in, I really hate to see this happen. What really upset me too, was the day of the Lakewood Memorial service, he (Scarecrow Bandit) did rob a bank that day and I mentioned that to him. He was kind of in awe that we knew he did it. There was a little bit of guilt it seemed like from him," said Pierce County Deputy Cooney.
Deputy Cooney also serves as a School Resource Officer in the University Place School District.
