Orlando Sentinel

Law enforcemen­t are honored for their heroic actions during the Pulse shooting.

- By David Harris Staff Writer

It was a normal night, with people having fun until last call.

“At 2:02 a.m., everything changed,” Orlando Police Master Sgt. Leith Harrell said.

More than 300 law enforcemen­t personnel and first responders who responded to the Pulse nightclub shooting and its aftermath were honored at Orlando police headquarte­rs Thursday.

“During that night there were many brave and heroic acts by law enforcemen­t and citizens,” said Orlando police Chief John Mina.

Several units at the Orlando Police Department — from the initial officers who first engaged with shooter Omar Mateen, to the SWAT team who killed him in a firefight, to the Critical Incident Stress Management team who helped with the mental health of the officers — played a critical role in responding to the incident and its aftermath, officials said.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the men and women at the Orlando Police Department, Orlando Health and our community,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.

Firefighte­rs, EMTs, emergency room doctors and officers from other department­s also were honored.

The names of the honored officers streamed on video screens as Harrell read about each unit’s actions on June 12.

The Orlando police officer serving as security at the club, Adam Gruler, shot at Mateen from the outside. A second officer was on scene within 90 seconds.

Within five minutes, several teams of officers went inside to search for Mateen and rescue survivors.

“The victims lay together so tight that the living couldn’t be differenti­ated from the dead,” Harrell said.

Nearly three hours after the initial shots were fired and all survivors except those held in a bathroom with Mateen were rescued, the walls were breached and he began firing again.

The SWAT team killed him in the firefight.

“They stood face-to-face and went toe-to-toe with a killer,” Mina said.

Just because the shooter was dead didn’t mean the incident was over in the following hours, days and weeks.

The club was documented by Crime Scene Investigat­ors. The bodies were removed from the club by the Hazmat team.

 ?? JOE BURBANK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER ?? The Orlando Police Department color guard presents the colors Thursday at a ceremony honoring the officers and staff involved in the response to the Pulse nightclub massacre.
JOE BURBANK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPH­ER The Orlando Police Department color guard presents the colors Thursday at a ceremony honoring the officers and staff involved in the response to the Pulse nightclub massacre.

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