By Lynn Hatter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-882853.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – Twelve of Florida's finest officers were honored Wednesday as Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum presented the Officer of the Year Award. The 2009 recipient hails from Jacksonville. His name is Jared Reston.
Detective Reston was working his second job as an off-duty officer at a local mall when he encountered two shoplifters. The first was easily caught, but the second ran. The chase ended when the man turned, pulled a gun, and shot Officer Reston.
"Despite his wounds after being shot seven times, Detective Reston began to return fire, killing the 18-year-old suspect," said McCollum as he announced the award.
At the start of the ceremony, attendees paid tribute to eight officers who died in the line of duty last year, a reminder that Reston could have been among that number.