Florida Officer Honored for Capturing Parkland School Shooting Suspect
“It’s not about me. It’s about my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire rescue, first responders. We all had a role that day,” Coconut Creek Officer Michael Leonard told Broward County commissioners as they honored him Tuesday. “I’m honored to wear the badge.”

Coconut Creek Police Officer Michael Leonard was honored by the Broward County commissioners Tuesday for capturing the Parkland school shooting suspect. He said the honor should go to all of the first responders who "had a role that day." (Photo: Screen Shot from Sun Sentinel video)
The police officer who found Marjory Stoneman Douglas High shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz and took him into custody doesn’t see himself as a hero.
“It’s not about me. It’s about my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire rescue, first responders. We all had a role that day,” Coconut Creek Officer Michael Leonard told Broward County commissioners as they honored him Tuesday. “I’m honored to wear the badge.”
The commission proclaimed Tuesday Officer Michael Leonard and Coconut Creek Police Department Appreciation Day, the Sun-Sentinel reports.
Leonard said he was “just doing my job that day” when he spotted Cruz and detained him in Coral Springs about three miles away from the Parkland High school where 17 were killed and another 16 injured on Valentine’s Day.
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