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Officer Pedro Garcia, III (Police Department, San Antonio, TX)

2007–2008 Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Recipient

On September 8, 2008, Officer Pedro Garcia and his partner responded to an "officer in trouble" call to assist three patrol division officers who had come under gunfire while attempting to serve a felony warrant at a residence. Officer Garcia immediately formulated and directed a rescue plan to remove a wounded officer. As he approached the wounded officer, Officer Garcia was struck in the face by a bullet or bullet fragment. Despite his injury, Officer Garcia reached the wounded officer and pulled her out of the building into the fenced backyard, while returning fire. Because Officer Garcia could not safely remove the wounded officer from the backyard without putting them both back into the direct line of fire, he directed another officer to use a patrol car to create an opening in the fence so they could escape. While the gunfire from the house continued, Officer Garcia carried the wounded officer to his patrol car. He drove her down the street to a waiting EMS unit and then returned to the scene to coordinate with his fellow officers until a SWAT Team relieved them.

Three men standing in front of flags on a stage and facing the camera. The man in the middle is wearing an officer uniform and holding a Medal of Valor award plaque.
Date Published: September 10, 2020