Service runs in the family for Dallas' Officer of the Year

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Police officers were recognized for their hard work and achievement at the annual Friends of Dallas Police Awards Banquet.

The banquet raises money for the police department and recognizes officers for their outstanding performance in the line of duty.

The top award went to a police officer in the Southeast Patrol Division. Officer William Bruce was named Officer of the Year for his response after a local paramedic was shot.

Officer Bruce has been with the police department for five years and public service runs in his family. His father is a Dallas firefighter.

Both he and his father were on the scene back in May of 2017 when Dallas Fire-Rescue paramedic William An was shot while trying to treat a gunshot victim.

Monday night’s event also paid tribute to two fallen officers. Delores Givens accepted the police cross in memory of her son, Sr. Cpl. Earl “Jamie” Givens.

Sr. Cpl. Givens was struck and killed by a drunken driver while conducting a funeral escort for another Dallas police officer back in June.

Dallas Police Chief Rene Hall and Officer Crystal Almeida accepted the police cross in honor of her fallen partner, Officer Rogelio Santander, Jr.

Officer Santander died after a man he was trying to arrest shot him and a loss prevention officer at a Home Depot in April.