Obama awards Medal of Valor to Garland officer who stopped terrorists

A Garland police officer was honored by President Barack Obama Monday for shooting and killing ISIS-inspired terrorists at last year’s Muhammad cartoon contest in Garland.

Officer Gregory Stevens received the national Medal of Valor, the highest honor awarded to public officers, at the White House.

Last May Officer Stevens was working security at the Curtis Culwell Center during the controversial “Draw the Prophet” contest.

He took out the two heavily armed men who attempted to attack the event. He had only his handgun and when the shootout was over the two terrorists were dead and he was unscathed.

The White House said his extraordinary courage prevented a mass shooting.

“He did what he was trained to do and under the fire that he was put under he did a very good job. He probably saved lives,” Joe Harn, a spokesman for the Garland Police Department, said at the time.

The head of the Dallas-Fort Worth Council on Islamic-American Relations praised Stevens' actions and his award.

"I think it's important that any law enforcement officer that puts his life on the line in the line of duty and takes down a threat that was targeting an entire community... I think it's important that he gets recognized and honored and we're certainly pleased to see that happen," said Alia Salem.

Twelve other officers from around the country were also recognized Monday for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect citizens.