Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer Shay Mikalonis was awarded 2020 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Officer Mikalonis was shot and critically injured during a protest on the Las Vegas Strip on June 1, 2020. He was released from hospital to a rehabilitation center, but remains paralyzed from the neck down. Mikalonis has since come home to Las Vegas, but requires 24-hour care and breathes with a ventilator.
The award was presented by the Major County Sheriffs of America, a national law enforcement association representing Sheriff’s offices across the country. Mikalonis had his picture displayed on the Fenway Park Jumbotron along with other winners.
The LVMPD also tweeted their congratulations to the wounded officer.
“CONGRATS SHAY!!” LVMPD said.
“The award (recognizes) officer actions that go above and beyond the call of duty.”
Shay was also honored at a hockey game fundraiser, “Play for Shay,” back in August that was organized by the Injured Police Officer’s Fund. According to the LVMPD, the officer has made “incredible progress” since the shooting.
The man accused of shooting Mikalonis, Edgar Samaniego, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. He claimed that he fired a shot to care protestors away, and was not aware police were present, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Samaniego will go to trial on Jan. 4.
