This 'Kung-Fu' Cop Who Just Got Promoted For His Incredible Moves In The Face Of Danger

Despite having his police vehicle shattered, torched and set upon by rioters, when Kevin Philippy stepped out of the car to face his attackers he was a picture of total calm, ducking violent blows so deftly he earned the nicknamed 'kung-fu' policeman.



The amazing show of bravery by the cop happened during violent labour protests last week in Paris and the footage of his swift professional response soon went viral, notching up over 10 million views online.

In the footage, several masked and hooded young men are seen attacking the car with iron bars and bollards torn from the pavement. A smoke bomb or Molotov cocktail is thrown through the smashed rear window of the car which catches fire.

'Kung-fu' cop Kevin is then seen coolly alighting from the car and facing up to an armed man without taking out his gun.

The 29-year-old police trainee calmly blocks several blows from a masked, bar-wielding protester before walking away from both the attacker and the car, which was already in flames from a Molotov cocktail.

He does not lash out blindly and follows professional protocol throughout, eventually scaring off the attacker.

Yesterday, his professional conduct in the face of grave personal danger earned him official recognition, when he was awarded a medal by Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve in a ceremony in central Paris in the presence of French President François Hollande.

Interior Minister Cazeneuve said the video showed extreme professionalism on Philippy’s behalf, france24.com reports.

“What made me extremely proud was your extreme self-control

“(Here was) a police officer who was strong in his own personality and values not just strong because he had a gun.

“Because, after the protests and tensions have passed … we will keep one image in our minds: That of a police officer stepping out of a vehicle with one single objective in mind, to protect his colleague,” the minister said.

Despite having just failed his police examinations, the probationary police officer's exemplary action earned him direct promotion to a full police officer’s rank and made a permanent member of the national police force.

The attack on the police car, came as police demonstrated across France against violence suffered at the hands of anti-government protesters in recent months.

- mD