Congress on Thursday honored five officers who “ran toward the threat and stopped it” when a gunman opened fire on a congressional baseball practice in June, gravely injuring House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, the Associated Press reports.
Gathering in the U.S. Capitol, leaders of the House and Senate paid tribute to the five officers who initially responded to the attack, presenting them with the U.S. Capitol Police Medal of Honor, the agency’s highest honor. The medal is awarded to those who exhibit great courage and voluntarily risk their life to help others.
The officers honored were Special Agents David Bailey and Crystal Griner of the U.S. Capitol Police and Officers Nicole Battaglia, Alexander Jensen, and Kevin Jobe of the Alexandria Police Department. The latter were the first officers from an outside law enforcement agency to receive the honor.