We in the Cape Fear region are used to turning out heroes. Many men and women have served honorably in the armed forces, in law enforcement and there are legions of residents who commit acts of heroism in everyday life. Even so, Kimberly Munley is a special breed.
The petite civilian police officer, born and bred right here, has been hailed for her role in stopping a horrific shooting at Fort Hood in Texas. Wounded herself, Munley nevertheless managed to continue firing until the suspect, an Army psychiatrist who apparently alarmed some colleagues with irrational or anti-American statements, was brought down.
Initially, she was credited with firing the four bullets that brought down Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, but investigators know that it often takes time to piece together facts from amid such chaos. A fuller picture will emerge; all who responded deserve commendation.
Of course, those who know Munley weren’t surprised by her moxie. She earned the nickname “Mighty Mouse” from a fellow Wrightsville Beach officer after she helped subdue a violent suspect. She’s tough, she’s well trained and, in this case, she was determined to do her duty even at the risk of her own life.
Administrators at the hospital where she’s being treated say she’ll recover from her injuries. That’s comforting news for her family and friends, and also for the many people who will continue to benefit from her strong commitment to her job.
Former Carolina Beach Mayor Dennis Barbour has good reason to be proud of his daughter. She is a credit to all the uniforms she has worn, civilian and military. “It was an amazing and aggressive performance by this police officer,” Lt. Gen. Bob Cone told reporters.
It goes without saying that folks here in the Cape Fear region will be boasting for some time to come about the Hoggard graduate who showed tremendous bravery in a situation few of us can even imagine. The families of the 12 soldiers killed in the attack by Hasan are grieving and the injured are still recovering, but Munley’s courage and that of others who attempted to stop Hasan may have saved many other lives.
Fort Hood, like this area, has its share of heroes. But there is always room for one more.
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