Responding officers in Metro ambush to receive Top Cop Awards

A national police organization will honor 10 Las Vegas officers credited with playing a key role in stopping a June rampage that left five dead, including two of Metro’s own.

Each year The National Association of Police Organizations chooses officers from “10 of the nation’s top cases to highlight extraordinary acts of heroism and bravery,” according to the organization’s website. The presentation is set for Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Metro officers being honored in the TOP COPS Awards ceremony are: Sgts. Kurt McKenzie and Christopher O’Brien; and Officers Zachery Beal; John J. Bethard; Brett Brosnahan; David A. Corbin; Ryan Fryman; Timothy T. Gross; Troy L. Nicol and Gregory Stinnett.

The 10 officers responded June 8 to the east valley shooting that started in a pizza parlor where officers Alyn Beck, 41, and Igor Soldo, 31, were shot and killed.

“The group played a key role in stopping Jerad and Amanda Miller from continuing their violent rampage after killing two officers last year,” a Metro news release said.

After shooting the officers, the Millers continued to a Wal-Mart, at Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue, where they shot and killed Joseph Robert Wilcox, 31. The Millers died after a shootout with police at the store.

Actors from NBC’s Law and Order shows as well as CBS’s Cold Case, NCIS and CSI will present the awards in Washington.

The purpose of the awards, now in their 21st year, is to educate the public about the country’s law-enforcement officers. Awardees were nominated by their colleagues and selected by a committee.

This will be the third year in a row Metro will be recognized at the ceremony.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites