Sgt. James Dawson Honored for His Bravery

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – What is bravery? According to Merriam Webster, it is defined as follows:

“bravery: the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty: the quality or state of being brave”

All members of law enforcement understand to the depth of their being that bravery is something often required on a daily basis. It is also something that, when embodied in the heat of a dangerous situation, can make the difference of life or death for innocent victims. Such was the case recently, when Sgt. James Dawson of the Clare County Sheriff Department was an officer responding to a barricaded gunman situation in Isabella County, west of Coleman.

Dawson’s actions that day were described by Clare County Undersheriff Ed Williams at the March 5 Committee of the Whole meeting of the Clare County Board of Commissioners. Williams was representing Sheriff John Wilson who was unable to attend.

He began by acknowledging the many law enforcement personnel/staff who were in attendance. They included: Detective Sgt. Dave Aldrich, Detective Sgt. Bill Sharp, Central Dispatch Director Marlana Terrian, Road Patrol Lt. Aaron Miller, Deputy Tom Brown, Deputy Nick Oster, K-9 officer Sgt. Larry Kahsin, Chief Deputy Mike Bailey and Animal Control Director Bob Dodson.

Williams emphasized that he would simply love to play the body cam video for the commissioners to enable them to see what took place, and why Dawson was so deserving of the award he was about to receive. He explained that as that footage is part of a Michigan State Police investigation in a different district, it couldn’t be released even though it would illustrate the type of officers who are working and protecting the citizens of Clare County.

“And not only when needed, to protect citizens anywhere in the state of Michigan,” Williams said. “He was in Isabella County when this happened.” He went on to describe that event, saying that several people [agencies] were requested to assist the state police at an incident.

“There was shooting,” Williams said. “And Sgt. Dawson arrived there and was informed that a 12-year-old girl had been shot and was in the residence. There was a perimeter around the residence, and they didn’t know exactly where the guy that had been doing the shooting was at. And so, Sgt. Dawson took it upon himself to go to the residence, tactically, enter the residence – not necessarily from the door he wished he could have, that was on the other side of where they believed the armed gunman would have been – and he entered the home and found the 12-year-old and got her out of the home and into safety. Alone.

“That’s one of the key parts of this,” Williams said. “He acted selflessly and bravely to save a 12-year-old girl who had been shot, rescued her and got her medical aid.”

He added that after that action, the responding Clare County officers returned after being gone for only about an hour. “Sometimes that’s all it takes to go show what type of brave officers we have working here in Clare County,” Williams said.

He then called Dawson to join him to receive his award, reading it out for those in attendance: “For unselfish bravery in the line of duty in which this law enforcement officer at perilous risk to his own life performed his duty in such a manner as to reflect courage, dedication and initiative fully indicative of the law enforcement officer profession on February 18, 2025, in Isabella County.”

Williams noted that the award for bravery is the second-highest award that can be achieved with the sheriff’s office, and then pinned the breast bar medal on Dawson’s uniform shirt. An enthusiastic round of applause followed, along with photos taken by many in attendance of Williams and Dawson holding his Certificate of Bravery. That was followed by another round of applause; a call out of “Way to go, Dawson,” and Williams saying, “Now, everybody, back to work.”