Rewarding day for rescuers

YAKIMA, Wash. -- It was handshakes and tears Tuesday as two Yakima County Sheriff's deputies were awarded their department's highest honor for pulling a
5-year-old girl from a downed airplane that was leaking fuel.

Before a crowded Yakima City Council chambers, Sheriff Ken Irwin presented deputies Dan Cypher and Mike Hanratty with the Medal of Valor after describing how they pulled a badly injured Julie Reed from the remains of the plane her father was piloting in June.

"They put their own safety in jeopardy," he said.

Julie's father, Justin Reed, 37, and her 13-year-old step-brother, Perrin, died when their 1974 Cessna 172 Skyhawk went down near Rimrock Lake, east of White Pass.

Standing outside council chambers afterward with moist eyes, Cypher wrung a handkerchief in his hands while consoling Julie's mother, Natisha Reed.

"I'm glad that I was able to be there," he told her as he hugged her. "I know you're going through a lot."

Reed said she was honored to attend the ceremony.

"I'm just grateful that they were there that day to do what they did," she said.

Hanratty said it was an honor to receive the medal.

"It's kind of bitter sweet. Unfortunately, there were two lost," he said softly. "Little Julie, she survived and is thriving."

Hanratty located the crash site that day and flagged down Washington State Patrol Trooper Billy Massey, who was off duty and on a motorcycle ride. Cypher arrived shortly afterward.

The three immediately began working to free Julie, who was in a child restraint seat, from the aircraft. Risking fire or explosion, Hanratty entered the plane while Cypher climbed under it and lifted its wing so Hanratty could free Julie's head from wires and metal.

She was airlifted to a Seattle hospital, where she underwent surgery to her badly injured legs.

"If she had not been in that car seat, she would have been a pingpong ball in the cabin of that plane," Cypher said.

But Julie is now doing well as she recovers from the ordeal, he said.

"She's mobile, running around, doing 5-year-old things. That has filled our hearts and replaces a lot of tragic images that were carried since the tragic incident," he said.

Cypher and Hanratty are among only four current deputies to have been awarded the Medal of Valor.

Two medals were given in December 2004 to deputies Sean Moore and Matt Steadman, who arrested a truck thief after a high-speed chase amid gunfire.