22
May
2019
|
16:59 PM
America/New_York

Ohio State police officer honored at White House ceremony

President Donald Trump and Attorney General William Barr presented Ohio State University Police Officer Alan Horujko with the 2019 Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor at a White House ceremony today.

Horujko took action to stop a violent car and knife attack on the Columbus campus in November 2016. The award for Horujko is the highest national award for valor presented to a public safety officer.

“Thanks to Alan, not a single innocent person died that day. Officer Horujko, we are forever grateful,” Trump said.

Horujko joined police and firefighters from across the country at the White House. Barr said only a handful of the more than 2 million first responders across the country receive the medal of valor each year.

“Each of them has had their fight-or-flight moment and each of them has stood their ground,” Barr said.

Horujko shared his thoughts about the attack in a video in 2017. At the time, he credited a university police training program for preparing him to respond to the attack.

Horujko said he was at the right place at the right time to save lives that November day.

“There was a plan that had me there that day,” he said in 2017. “It seems like the stars aligned in some way to put me right there where I was needed to protect those people. So that’s why I’m just very grateful that happened.”

The medal of valor is awarded to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life. Public safety officers are nominated by their chiefs or public safety directors and recommended by the Medal of Valor Review Board.

The state has also honored Horujko. The Ohio Attorney General presented him with the Ohio Distinguished Law Enforcement Valor Award in 2017.