WASHINGTON, D.C. — A South Florida police officer was recognized by the president, Wednesday, for going above and beyond the call of duty.
North Miami Police officer Niel Johnson received a high honor at the White House for his courageous work on the force.
Johnson received the highest national honor for a public safety officer from the Commander in Chief. “To have him do it himself was absolutely phenomenal,” Johnson said with pride.
Johnson was awarded the prestigious Presidential Medal of Valor on May 16 “for swift and valorous action to end a violent crime spree.”
On April 14, 2015, police said, a man opened fire with an assault rifle, hitting an officer and two bystanders, before officer Johnson took the suspect down. “Fortunately, the department has provided excellent training, and that’s what I fell back on,” he said with modesty.
Johnson said he was just doing his job, but his fellow officers and family see it differently. “He’s a hero, but he’s been a hero from day one,” said his daughter Megan Dominguez. “It doesn’t take something like this to prove that he’s a hero.”
Johnson is the first North Miami Police officer to receive the Medal of Valor.
Miami-Dade Police officer Mario Gutierrez was also awarded a medal of honor. In 2013, he prevented a man from setting two gasoline tanks on fire at a gas station.
Officer Gutierrez will get his warm welcome home tomorrow.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.