Officer who Responded First to Orlando Nightclub Massacre Invited to State of the Union

Orlando Police Officer Adam Gruler —the first officer at the scene of the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre — will join Rep. Val Demings as a guest to the State of the Union address on Tuesday.

Gruler, a 17-year veteran of the force, was working security at the club and was the first officer to encounter the gunman that morning. He’ll be joined by his wife Jaimi, a teacher.

Demings, who has known Gruler since her time as Orlando’s police chief, in a statement said she is “deeply proud of the courage he showed” during the mass shooting at Pulse, which claimed 49 lives June 12, 2016, the Orlando Sentinel reports.