The Covenant School, where seven people, including the shooter, died in a mass shooting in Nashville, Tenn. on Monday March 27, 2023. (Photo: John Partipilo)
President Joe Biden on Friday will present the nation’s highest award for valor by a public safety officer to five Metro Nashville Police officers for their actions during the March 2023 shooting at The Covenant School.
Sergeant Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Englebert and Detectives Michael Collazo, Ryan Cagle and Zachary Plese will receive the Medal of Valor during a ceremony at the White House.
As law enforcement arrived at the Christian school following reports of an active shooting situation on March 27, 2023, the five entered the building, cleared classrooms and “ran towards the sound of gunfire where they encountered the shooter,” a White House press release said.
Engelbert and Collazo subsequently shot and killed the 28-year-old shooter, who killed six people — three elementary students and three staff members.
While in the U.S. Senate, Biden co-sponsored the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor Act of 2001, allowing the president to present the award to a public safety officer for extraordinary valor above and beyond the call of duty.
The nominees were recommended by the U.S. Attorney General and the Medal of Valor Review Board, whose members are appointed to four-year terms by the President, the Senate majority and minority leaders, the Speaker of the House and the House minority leader.
The medal recipients have exhibited exceptional courage — disregarding their own personal safety — in attempting to save or protect human life, according to the press release.
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