WASHINGTON -- A Mobile County sheriff's deputy was honored Monday as one of the nation's top cops for his calm under fire.
Lt. Carlos Thompson of the Mobile County Sheriff's Office received the National Top Cops Award at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The awards pay tribute to law enforcement officers for outstanding service to their communities.
Thompson was one of 21 officers from 11 departments across the country who received the award from the National Association of Police Organizations, a coalition of police unions and associations from across the country. Officers are nominated for Top Cops Awards by their fellow officers and then selected by an independent committee from hundreds of nominations.
In January 2007, Thompson attempted to stop a man suspected of fleeing an armed robbery. When Thompson attempted to pull the man over, he did not stop and began to shoot at Thompson with an assault rifle.
As Thompson returned fire, he was struck in the lower leg and right elbow. The injury made him unable to move his right hand, which he uses to shoot. Thompson managed to reload his weapon with his left hand and continued to fire.
In his rearview mirror, Thompson saw the man behind the car. Thompson shot his remaining two rounds over his shoulder and the suspect fell to the ground. The man, 23-year-old Anthony Gilmore, was fatally wounded.
Thompson said Monday he is still on light duty and his recovery has been tough.
"But I'm still working hard and I'm going to get back out there," he said as he accepted his award.
Contact Amy Dominello at 202-662-7671 or adominello@mediageneral.com
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