Obama says nation must listen to police
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama called on the nation Monday to support and listen to its law enforcement officers as he bestowed the Medal of Valor on 13 officers who risked their lives to save others.
In a ceremony in the East Room, Obama draped the purple-and-gold ribbons around the necks of officers who intervened in shooting rampages, hostage situations and an armed robbery. He pledged to keep working toward a bipartisan overhaul to make the criminal justice system fairer, smarter and more effective so that officers are well-equipped to enforce the country’s laws.
“We can show our respect by listening to you, learning from you, giving you the resources that you need to do your jobs,” Obama said. “Our country needs that right now.”
Three California officers — Jason Salas, Robert Sparks and Capt. Raymond Bottenfield — were honored for their response to a 2013 rampage on a community college campus that left five people dead.
Obama also honored Gregory Stevens of Garland, Texas, who exchanged gunfire with two armed men outside an exhibit hall holding a provocative contest for caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad. Both gunmen were killed, heading off what investigators suspected was a planned mass shooting.
One of those honored, Police Maj. David Huff of Midwest City, Okla, saved a 2-year-old girl being held at knifepoint after talks with her captor deteriorated.
“Obviously, the last few moments were tense. There was a countdown going on,” Huff told reporters after the ceremony. “There was just no way I was going to let that little child get hurt.”
One Philadelphia officer died from a gunshot wound and was honored posthumously. Sgt. Robert Wilson III drew fire from assailants during a robbery while saving store employees and customers. Wilson’s grandmother accepted the award.
The other officers honored with the medal are:
• Miami-Dade Police Officer Mario Gutierrez.
• Johnson City, N.Y., Patrolman Louis Cioci.
• Los Angeles Police Officer Donald Thompson.
• Omaha, Neb., Police Officer Coral Walker.
• North Miami, Fla., Police Officer Niel Johnson. • FBI agent Tyler Call. • Niagara County, N.Y., Sheriff ’s Deputy Joey Tortorella