May 12, 2009

Nevada Senator Harry Reid meets with Officer Blake Penny, Sergeant Steve Custer and Officer Christian Jackson from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Force. The officers are being honored by the National Association of Police Organizations with honorable mention as “Top Cops.”

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today met with three police officers from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department who received honorable mention in the Top Cops awards given out by the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO). NAPO created the Top Cops Awards to pay tribute to outstanding law enforcement officers across the country for actions above and beyond the call of duty.
 
The three officers Reid met with were Sergeant Steve Custer, Officer Blake Penny and Officer Christian Jackson. In June 2008, Las Vegas Metro received a call of shots fired at a gentleman’s club and the suspect reportedly fled in a black Hummer. Officer Penny spotted the vehicle, attempted to pull it over and when the driver refused to stop Officer Penny pursued until the driver lost control, flipping the vehicle end-over-end bringing it to a stop. Officer Penny approached the vehicle and was shot in the leg by the suspect. Penny returned fire and the suspect fell back into the vehicle. Sergeant Custer and Officer Jackson arrived shortly thereafter; they pulled Penny into the patrol car and administered first aid. Jackson drove Penny to the hospital while Custer covered the Hummer until SWAT arrived. SWAT approached the vehicle and discovered the suspect had died due to gunshot wounds received from Penny.