The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is pleased to announce Border Patrol Agent Jonathan Morales is the 2019 IACP/Target Police Officer of the Year.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer sprang into action in April after a gunman opened fire in a synagogue in California on the last day of Passover. Agent Morales, who was off-duty and attending services at the synagogue, chased after the shooter, striking the getaway car before the gunman sped off and was eventually brought into custody. One woman died and three others were wounded in this tragedy.  This officer put himself in danger to try and prevent the further loss of life.  

The three other finalists honored on October 26 at the IACP’s annual conference in Chicago are Officer Nick Grivna, of the Virginia, Minnesota Police Department, Trooper Daniel Harrell, of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol and Officer Thomas Thompson of the Lubbock, Texas Police Department.  Officer Grivna responded to a hostage situation in Minnesota in which the suspect was holding a man at knifepoint. Officer Grivna shot the suspect who died of his injuries. The hostage was safely rescued and not physically injured. Trooper Harrell was shot twice in the face following a traffic stop in North Carolina and still managed to pursue the fleeing suspect, who was eventually captured. Officer Thompson responded to a robbery in progress call in Texas and despite facing an armed suspect and being injured in the attempt to bring him into custody, managed to shoot the suspect, eventually getting the suspect medical treatment and prevent any loss of life to anyone involved.

The IACP congratulates Agent Morales on becoming the 2019 IACP/Target Officer of the Year and saluting the three finalists. Nominations for next year’s award for heroes who work tirelessly every day to make communities around the world safer will open in the Spring of 2020. Visit theIACP.org for updates.