Rep. Johnson presents Congressional Badge of Bravery to DeKalb Officer

LITHONIA, GA – Congressman Hank Johnson (GA-04) presented DeKalb County Police Officer Jonathan Lamar Lewis with a Congressional Badge of Bravery today at the Lou Walker Senior Center for his acts of heroism in the line of duty on December 12, 2014.

Johnson presented the award to Lewis with DeKalb Public Safety Director Dr. Cedric Alexander, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia Kurt Erskine, Newton County Sheriff Ezell Brown, Interim CEO Lee May, fellow police officers and Lewis’ wife and mother in attendance.

“I want to thank my family for giving me the strength to serve this great county,” said Lewis, who grew up in Lithonia. “I also want to thank my fellow officers – because without them, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Each day, law enforcement officers across the country risk their personal safety to keep our families and our communities safe,” said Johnson. “We are fortunate that no lives were lost that December morning in 2014 but tragically that is not always the case. Let’s take a moment to give a round of applause for Officer Lewis and all of the law enforcement officers who serve us every day.”

On December 12, 2014, Officer Lewis – along with four other officers – stopped a home invasion and armed robbery in progress at a DeKalb County apartment complex. Lewis and his colleagues confronted two heavily armed and dangerous suspects. Two of the five police officers were struck by gunfire during the incident but survived. Officer Lewis not only confronted the armed suspects with force, but rendered aid to his fallen colleagues as well. One suspect was arrested at the scene and the second was arrested after a four-hour manhunt.

The Congressional Badge of Bravery is reserved for the individuals who display selflessness in the face of adversity and courage in the heat of battle.

Cutline: DeKalb County Officer Jonathan Lamar Lewis receives the Congressional Badge of Bravery in a ceremony at the Lou Walker Senior Center for his acts of heroism in the line of duty on December 12, 2014.

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