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Peace Officer and Public Safety Awards honors heroes

Published November 14, 2017 8:20 PM

The annual Peace Officer and Public Safety Awards Luncheon in Rancho Mirage on Tuesday honored heroes both on the front lines and those who work behind the scenes.

Riverside County sheriffs’ Deputy David Solis received a standing ovation as he was named the 2017 Medal of Valor.

“He was pretty badly injured, and he was very lucky even surviving that night,” said Sheriff Stan Sniff.

Solis was shot six times on May 25 while chasing a suspect through a neighborhood in Coachella. He returned to work just four months later.

Read: Coachella deputy shot in line of duty returns to work, honored by city

Solis was honored alongside his brothers-in-arms from all agencies that serve the Coachella Valley like the late Indio firefighter Sara Thomas and Deputy Alicia Lopez, recognized after donating her kidney to a local boy.

“It’s great and nice to see that they’re getting rewarded and getting the attention that they deserve. Because firefighters and dispatchers they’re the silent (sic) behind what is seen out there,” said Lopez.

Read: Deputy awarded for donating kidney to young boy

“Regardless of the uniform, or the shape of the badge or patches, or what particular agency, it really takes all of us working together to serve the public as emergency first responders. And again, it really underscores how much these young men and women put themselves at risk serving all of us,” Sheriff Sniff said.