DPD honors its own for outstanding service, conduct and valor

The Dallas Police Department (DPD) honored a few of its own with recognition for service, meritorious conduct and valor in the line of duty. Dallas Police Chief David Brown presented various departmental awards and honored a select few for their exceptional bravery and courage while protecting the citizens of Dallas.

Among those honored were Sergeant Jason Scoggins, Officers Robert Wilcox, Derrick Evangelista and Manuel Ortiz for their actions involving a deadly force situation that resulted in a shootout with a suspect. All four officers were in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death; however, all four voluntarily encountered the suspect while he was shooting at them.

Senior Corporals Dale Lundberg, Kevin Gladden and Officer Jose Garcia, responded to a call on August 11, 2014 regarding a cutting. Upon arrival, officers observed one male and one female suffering from obvious injuries. As the first officer to arrive, Gladden was directed toward the suspect, who was holding a knife. Disregarding his own safety, Gladden entered into an extremely dangerous situation and confronted the suspect. Senior Corporal Gladden’s actions also diverted further harm and possible death to the victims by drawing the armed suspect away from the crime scene, which gave the victims’ time to escape.

A posthumous Medal of Valor was presented to the family of Detective L.C. Graves for his actions on Nov. 24, 1963. Graves was assigned to escort Lee Harvey Oswald to the basement of Dallas Police Headquarters. Oswald had been charged with the murder of Dallas Police Officers J.D. Tippit and President John F. Kennedy. Upon exiting the corridor leading to the parking lot, they faced a large crowd reporters, at which time Graves was a human shield for Oswald. A gunman later identified as Jack Ruby appeared from the crowd and fired a shot at Oswald. Graves grabbed Ruby’s wrist, along with the cylinder of the gun, and prevented any further shots from being fired. Graves stayed with the wounded Oswald and rode in the ambulance to the hospital.

DPD is a world-class force of more than 3,400 uniformed and civilian professionals protecting and serving the 1.3 million residents of Dallas over 386 square miles. For more information visit www.dallaspolice.net or www.dpdbeat.com.