President Barack Obama awarded medals of valor Monday to two South Florida law enforcement officers at a White House ceremony.
The two were among a handful of law enforcement officers from across the nation who were called to the East Room to receive their profession’s highest honor.
In October, 2013, Miami-Dade Police Officer Mario Gutierrez spotted a man acting erratically at a Shell gas station near the Miami International Airport. A White House official takes it from there.
“Officer Gutierrez sustained multiple stab wounds while subduing a knife wielding assailant who attempted to set off a massive gas explosion that could have resulted in multiple fatalities.”
In April of last year, North Miami Police Officer Niel (NILE,) Johnson approached an armed suspect outside of an apartment complex in Sans Soucie (SU-SEE.) The suspect stole a police car and a high-speed chase and shootout followed.
“Officer Johnson pursued a man who had shot a Miami police officer and two other innocent bystanders, withstanding fire from an assault weapon and apprehending an assailant.”
The recipients approached Obama individually after their names were read and bowed slightly while he draped the medals over their heads.
