Other LanguagesOLYMPIA – The Washington state Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers Memorial ceremony will be held in Olympia on Friday.
Governor Chris Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna will award two law enforcement officers with Washington state’s highest law enforcement award: The Medal of Honor. The medal is given to officers who made the ultimate sacrifice or have displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct.
When:
1 p.m. Friday May 6, 2011
Where:
Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol Campus in Olympia
Details:
The ceremony is open to the public but space is limited. TVW will record the ceremony and air it next week. TVW will also post the ceremony on tvw.org for on-demand viewing.
Recipients of the Medal of Honor:
- Former Washington State Trooper and current Pacific County Sheriff Scott Johnson. In February 2010, Johnson was shot in the head at close range while in the process of impounding a vehicle. Even though seriously injured, Johnson was able to return fire. The Washington State Attorney General’s Office prosecuted Johnson’s attacker, Martin Jones, at the request of the Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office. Jones was found guilty on Feb. 3 and sentenced to 50 years in prison.
- Sgt. Troy Brightbill, of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, will receive the medal for meritorious conduct. On Dec. 3, 2010, Sgt. Brightbill saved a senior citizen from being attacked by a man with a sword. Brightbill simultaneously pushed the senior to safety while using his Taser on the attacker.
The ceremony will also recognize Federal Way Officer Brian Walsh, who died while guarding a crime scene and Corrections Officer Jayme Biendl, who was killed by an inmate at the Washington state prison in Monroe.
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Contacts:
Janelle Guthrie, AGO Communications Director, (360) 586-0725