Two individuals were recently recognized by Federal Way police for their courageous efforts to stop criminals in their tracks.

Losili Lui and James Ian Morris both received a Police Chief’s Citizen Commendation Award on July 20. The Federal Way Police Employee Recognition Board voted to give the awards. Within the past year, Lui and Morris each assisted police in catching a criminal. In two separate scenarios, they intervened after witnessing a crime in progress.

“These individuals’ actions were courageous and they went far beyond what is expected of our citizens, and they made a difference in our community,” Assistant Police Chief Andy Hwang said when presenting the awards.

Losili Lui

On Feb. 16, Lui helped police catch a thief. The suspect had targeted a woman carrying a cash deposit bag. The suspect shoved the woman, grabbed her belongings and fled on foot.

As she was driving, Lui saw the man darting across Pacific Highway South, clutching the bag. She also saw the victim standing on the sidewalk and knew something was wrong. Lui yelled at the victim to hop into her car.

Together, the women pursued the suspect by vehicle. When they caught up with him, Lui jumped out of her vehicle and yelled at him to drop the bag. The suspect, a felon, dropped the deposit bag and again tried to flee.

Lui chased and tackled the suspect. She held him in a leg lock until police arrived. The suspect, in possession of two cans of pepper spray, was taken into custody. The more than $1,100 was recovered.

The story put a smile on people’s faces as Hwang spoke at the July 20 city council meeting, where Lui was honored. The audience chuckled and mayor Linda Kochmar asked if Lui had any judo or wrestling experience. She does not.

In Lt. Sandy Tudor’s nomination of Lui for the award, she wrote, “without Ms. Lui’s actions, it is highly possible that (the suspect) would have escaped. Ms. Lui’s courageous actions resulted in police apprehension of a dangerous suspect.”

James Ian Morris

On Dec. 24, 2009, Morris was in The Commons mall, working as a Loss Prevention Officer for Sears, when he overheard a call for help from a mall security guard. There was a fight, and one suspect was in possession of a gun. The guard gave a description of the armed suspect over the radio.

Morris took action to ensure customers’ safety. He closed Sears’ doors connecting to the mall. Spotting the suspect, he relayed the individual’s location to police. He continued to keep police updated on the suspect’s location until police arrived.

The suspect was apprehended. He was in possession of a handgun. In officer Steven Wortman’s nomination of Morris, he wrote that Morris’ “quick reaction, good observations and great broadcast allowed this call to end without anyone being injured.”