By Police1 Staff
DALLAS — A homeless former gang member was awarded a certificate of merit Thursday from the Dallas Police Department for protecting an officer from an attacker.
Video showed Charles Alexander rushing to the aid of Officer Billy Taylor when a man allegedly high on PCP moved threateningly toward him. Alexander body slammed the would-be attacker just as two squad cars arrived at the scene.
During Thursday’s ceremony, Taylor publicly shook Alexander’s hand and thanked him for his fast response.
“I wish we had more people like him,”Taylor told CBS Local. “From knowing his background …to what he did…you wouldn’t have thought he wouldn’t have done that.”
Alexander said he had no choice but to step in and help.
“That’s my nature I don’t like violence,” he said. “I know what’s said about me in the paper and on the street but I don’t like the violence I had to do something its just the way I am,” said Alexander.