By Adriana M. Chávez
El Paso Times
Twenty-eight El Paso police officers received kudos on Wednesday for assisting area residents -- at times putting their own lives at risk while doing so.
Almost two dozen civilians were also honored during the annual El Paso Police Department awards ceremony, which took place at the Chamizal National Memorial.
The department’s top honors, the Medal of Valor and the Purple Heart Award, went to Officer Paul McDowell, who fatally shot and killed a man who allegedly attacked him.
Police said McDowell shot Javier Flores Jr., 29, on March 25, 2011, outside a Valero Corner Store at 11680 Montwood Drive. Flores, allegedly armed with a kitchen knife, had lunged at McDowell when the officer arrived at the store on a “vague” report of a possible sexual assault.
McDowell was stabbed in the hand, and in an effort to protect himself he shot and killed Flores, police said.
McDowell, through a police spokesman, declined to comment.
Several other awards were handed out during the ceremony, including the Unit of the Year award, which was given to the Mission Valley Regional Command Center’s Special Operations Unit, and the Officer of the Year award, which went to Officer Nicolas Chavez Jr. of the Central Regional Command.
Chavez was recognized for his high number of felony arrests last year and for his efforts, as part of the command center’s tactical gang unit, to curb crimes committed by two gangs in the Central area.
Among the civilian honorees was Angel Cuevas, who was given the Chief’s Award posthumously for his efforts in trying to help his cousin and two others by confronting three people who had allegedly robbed them.
On Feb. 4, Cuevas was walking home from the Carmike movie theater in Northeast El Paso when he confronted Bryan Johnson, Hugo Gonzalez and a juvenile.
Johnson, Gonzalez and the teen allegedly began assaulting Cuevas and stabbed him several times. Cuevas died of his injuries.
Also noted for their work was the Mission Valley Regional Command Center’s special operations unit, and Crimes Against Children Detective Oscar Morales, who was named Detective of the Year.
Morales was noted for his work last year in helping track down a young girl in Arizona who was reported missing from El Paso. Through Morales’ work, the girl was identified as a possible sexual assault victim and Morales was able to get her treatment.
“There are very serious cases that occur in our community on a daily basis,” said Morales, 39, who has been with the department for 17 years. “I’m glad I’m doing my part.”
Morales said that some of the cases he investigates involve the most heinous crimes against young children, but he finds the support he needs in his wife and two children.
“I cope with the support of my family,” Morales said. “If it weren’t for them, I would have difficulty processing these cases.”
Copyright 2012 El Paso Times