The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor today to Officer Alex Thomas for heroic, life-saving actions performed off duty in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Aug. 12, 2011.
“I know that Officer Thomas doesn’t view himself as a hero,” said PFPA Director Steven E. Calvery. “He was just doing what training taught him to do. But I don’t agree with that assumption. He is a hero, and I’m proud to serve with him.”
According to his award citation,
Officer Thomas stopped at a local convenience store, where he witnessed a violent altercation between two men. Officer Thomas witnessed the suspect physically assault the victim, [an elderly man], brandish a firearm, and then threaten to shoot the victim, who was lying on the ground.
Believing that if he did not act immediately, the victim would face death or serious bodily harm, Officer Thomas drew his personally owned firearm, identified himself as a police officer, and commanded the suspect to drop his weapon.
The suspect ignored Officer Thomas’ orders; and, after the suspect turned and twice pointed his weapon at him, Officer Thomas fired his weapon once, striking and mortally wounding the subject.
Officer Thomas secured the crime scene and determined that the suspect no longer posed a threat to himself or others.
He then retrieved medical supplies from his personal vehicle and began performing first aid and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the suspect until first-responders arrived on scene and relieved him.
The suspect later succumbed to his wound and died. The victim was not seriously injured.
Officer Thomas’ immediate actions, at the risk of his own life, resulted in saving the victim’s life and prevented the suspect from harming others present at the scene.
As a result of his unselfish and heroic actions, Officer Thomas is hereby awarded the Office of the Secretary of Defense Medal for Valor.
The Medal for Valor was created shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. It is the highest non-military award given by the Secretary of Defense to government employees and private citizens who act heroically in the face of danger.
To date, 56 Medals for Valor have been awarded by the Secretary of Defense. Twenty-seven of these medals have been awarded to PFPA officers, including Officer Thomas.
Eighteen PFPA officers received the medal for their display of valor on Sep. 11, 2001. Four officers were recognized eight years ago for their heroic actions apprehending a suspect who had killed a fellow Pentagon Police officer, Mark Feltis.
“Another officer,” said Calvery, “saved a neighbor from a burning home. And almost three years ago,” he added, “four PFPA officers were recognized for their valor during an active shooting incident at the Pentagon Metro Entrance Facility.”
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