PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania has presented retired Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Officer Daniel Mead with a U.S. Department of Justice/United States Attorney’s Office “Hometown Hero Award,” recognizing his bravery and sacrifice during the response to the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office announcement, Mead received the award during a brief ceremony at Pittsburgh Bureau of Police headquarters in front of the department’s command staff.
The office said the Hometown Hero Award is being offered in commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary and honors people who exemplify liberty, service, civic responsibility, and steadfast commitment to community.
Federal prosecutors said Mead and his partner, Michael Smidga, were the first officers to arrive at the Tree of Life Synagogue on October 27, 2018, after 911 calls reported an active shooter. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Mead approached the entrance, observed the shooter inside the building, and was shot through the hand before having to retreat.
The same announcement noted that Mead was one of four police officers and SWAT operators shot and injured during the attack, in which 11 congregants were killed and two others were seriously wounded.
“Nearly eight years after the shooting, our gratitude and admiration for the heroic bravery and selfless dedication of the first responders that day endures,” United States Attorney Troy Rivetti said in the release.
Rivetti said Mead “walked directly into the line of fire” to uphold the law and protect others, adding: “Today, we honor him. He is Pittsburgh’s Hometown Hero.”
Featured image: source-backed photo from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania. ThinBlueNews added headline/source-label treatment for social preview clarity.
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