Sometimes you are in the right place at the right time, and sometimes you choose to help above and beyond the call. A Sheriff?s department in Florida honored a U.S. Navy Gunner who helped save the life of Sheriff?s officer.
Sheriff John Rutherford is the Sheriff in Florida who honored Gunner?s Mate Petty Officer 1st Class Juan Gallegos stopped and assisted an officer with a shoplifting suspect. The suspect engaged the Officer Jared Reston with a gun, and fired it six times, wounding the officer.
Officer Reston fired back and fatally wounded the suspect, Joel Abner. But the officer was seriously wounded, and Petty Officer Gallegos stayed with the downed officer until help arrived.
Petty Officer Gallegos also was a vital witness to help reconstruct what had happened, to piece together what happened to the officer who was unconscious when EMS arrived at the scene.
Gallegos is a 28 year old U.S. Navy Gunners Mate assigned to the U.S.S. Farragut at Mayport Florida Naval Station. He was presented with a certificate of appreciation and a plaque by Sheriff Rutherford in appreciation to his service and assistance.