Ten members of the LVMPD were honored with 2021 Top Cops Awards from the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on October 15.

Captain Dori Koren, Sergeant Erik Perkett, Detective Aaron Denson, and Officers Logan Jex, TJ Keller, Keaton Courtley, Carl Loskill, Kyle Quimiro and Shay Mikalonis were recognized for their courage on the night of June 1, 2020, when Officer Mikalonis was shot in the neck and critically wounded during a protest. With one of their own down, officers rushed to Mikalonis’ aid, putting his life ahead of their own as they tried to determine where the shots had come from and wondering if they were under attack from a possible sniper. The officers also made sure the protesters, many of them hostile, were safe as well.

Officer Mikalonis survived and returned home after months in a rehabilitation clinic, but may remain paralyzed below the neck for the rest of his life. Knowing how devastating the emotional and financial effects have been for the Mikalonis family, Lieutenant Erik Lloyd, director of the LVMPD’s Injured Police Officers Fund, led the charge to raise a significant amount of money to assist them. Unfortunately, less than two months later, tragedy struck the LVMPD once again when he contracted COVID-19 and passed away on July 29, 2020. For his tireless work in raising funds to help the Mikalonis family and other families, Lloyd was recognized as a Top Cop along with Mikalonis and the brave LVMPD officers who responded to his side that night.

Officer Mikalonis’ stepfather, retired Deputy Chief Patrick Neville, accepted the award on his behalf. Lieutenant Lloyd was represented at the ceremony by his wife, Minddie.

LVPPA salutes all the awardees for their dedication and selflessness in the face of danger and tragedy. Thank you for once again showing the nation what it means to be Vegas Strong.