K9 Officer Jeremy Mason
Washington, DC—The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund has selected K9 Officer Jeremy Mason, of the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office, as the recipient of its Officer of the Month Award for January 2018.
In the afternoon of July 25, 2017, officers from the Jacksonville (FL) Sheriff’s Office were following a tip on a male suspect involved in two bank robberies. Officers soon spotted a vehicle matching the description of the car the suspect was driving. They saw the suspect get out of that car and into a silver vehicle with a female driver, and the vehicle sped away.
As the officers attempted to pull over the vehicle, a pursuit ensued with K9 Officer Jeremy Mason taking the lead. During the two-mile chase, witnesses said the suspect was firing at the officers from the fleeing vehicle while leaning out of the back windows. The suspect managed to hit Officer Mason’s vehicle several times, through the driver’s side windshield, striking the officer in the chin. Despite being shot in the face, Officer Mason continued his pursuit.
The suspect’s car ran a stop sign and crashed into another vehicle, causing the car to spin and stop. The male suspect got out of the car, and despite being told to put his gun down, again shot at Officer Mason and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Detective Brad Hurst, who was nearby. They both returned fire, killing the suspect.
Officer Mason, an 11-year veteran of the department, was transported to the hospital. He had numerous surgeries for his wound and continues on the road to recovery.
“Officer Mason, in my opinion, exhibited extraordinary heroism in the face of imminent danger and [is] a very worthy recipient of this award,” Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Braden Pursell said.
“Law enforcement officers risk their lives every day for the safety of their community,” Memorial Fund Chief Executive Officer Craig W. Floyd said. “Officer Mason’s determination to stop the suspect was more important to him than his wounds. His reliance on training and critical thinking, combined with the split-second decisions he made, is valiant. It is my honor to present Officer Mason with the Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Award for January 2018.”
Located in the nation’s capital, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the service and sacrifice of America’s law enforcement officers. The Memorial Fund’s Officer of the Month Award Program began in 1996 and recognizes federal, state, and local officers who distinguish themselves through exemplary law enforcement service and devotion to duty.
K9 Officer Mason, along with the other Officer of the Month Award recipients for 2018, will be honored at a special awards ceremony in Washington, DC, in 2019.
About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a private non-profit organization dedicated to telling the story of American law enforcement and making it safer for those who serve. The Memorial Fund maintains the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC, which contains the names of 21,183 officers who have died in the line of duty throughout U.S. history. The Memorial Fund is now building the National Law Enforcement Museum, which will tell the story of American law enforcement through high-tech, interactive exhibitions, historical artifacts and extensive educational programming. For more information, visit www.LawMemorial.org.
Jaclyn Barrientes
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(202) 737-7989