The American flag flies at half-staff over the White House in Washington, Sunday, May 15, 2016, in honor of Police Officers Memorial Day.(Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP)
WASHINGTON<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— President Obama will award the nation's highest honor for law enforcement to 13 police officers Monday, recognizing officers who put themselves in harm's way<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— one fatally<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— to protect citizens.
In a ceremony in the East Wing of the White House, Obama will present the Medal of Valor to officers who "have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life."
The Public Safety Officers Medal of Valor was established by President Clinton by executive order in 2000, and then officially recognized by Congress in 2001.
Those being awarded the medal are:
Officer Mario Gutierrez, Miami-Dade, Fla.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for subduing a knife-wielding assailant who attempted to set off a massive gas explosion that could have resulted in multiple fatalities.
Patrolman Louis Cioci,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Johnson City, N.Y., for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>pursuing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and apprehending<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a gunman who had killed a fellow officer<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at a crowded hospital, thereby saving the lives of employees, patients, and visitors.
Officers Jason Salas and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Robert Sparks and Captain Raymond Bottenfield,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Santa Monica, Calif.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>placing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>themselves in danger to save the lives of students and staff during a school shooting on the campus of Santa Monica College.
Major David Huff,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Midwest City, Okla., for resolving a hostage situation,.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>saving the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>life of a two-year-old girl after negotiations deteriorated with a man holding the child captive at knife point.
Officer Donald Thompson,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Los Angeles, Calif., for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>crossing two freeway dividers and enduring<span style="color: Red;">*</span>first- and second-degree burns while pulling an unconscious man to safety from a car moments before it became engulfed in flames.
Officer Coral Walker,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Omaha, Neb.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>single-handedly incapacitating<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a man who had killed and injured multiple victims on a shooting spree.
Officer Gregory Stevens,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Garland, Tex.,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>exchanging<span style="color: Red;">*</span>gunfire at close range and subduing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>two heavily-armed assailants, thereby preventing a mass shooting.
Sergeant Robert Wilson III,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Philadelphia, Pa., for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>drawing fire during an armed robbery, and suffering a fatal wound as he kept store employees and customers safe.
Officer Niel Johnson,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>North Miami, Fla., for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>pursuing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a man who had shot a Miami police officer and two other innocent bystanders, withstanding fire from an assault weapon, and apprehending<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the assailant.
Special Agent Tyler Call,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>FBI, for helping to<span style="color: Red;">*</span>rescue a woman from her ex-husband, who was holding her at<span style="color: Red;">*</span>gunpoint.
Deputy Joey Tortorella,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Niagara County, N.Y., for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>confronting<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and subduing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>a gunman who had shot and wounded his parents inside their home, and preventing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>him from threatening a nearby elementary school.
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