TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Jan 3, 2025

President Joe Biden today presented the nation’s highest award for valor by a public safety officer to five Metro Nashville police officers for their actions during the 2023 shooting at The Covenant School. Sergeant Jeffrey Mathes, Officer Rex Englebert, and detectives Ryan Cagle, Michael Collazo and Zachary Plese received the Medal of Valor during a ceremony at the White House. On March 27, 2023, law enforcement arrived at the school following reports of an active shooting. The five officers entered the building, cleared classrooms and "ran toward the sound of gunfire where they encountered the shooter," Tennessee Lookout reports. Nominees for the award are recommended by the U.S. attorney general and the Medal of Valor Review Board.