It's been a year like no other for the Salt Lake City Police Department.
Since last summer, Salt Lake officers have been called upon to respond to some of the state's biggest tragedies and investigate some of its highest-profile cases, along with those that quietly occur behind the scene.
Tuesday, the Salt Lake City Police Department honored some of those officers and civilians who played a role in helping keep the city safe.
Many awards handed out during the 26th annual Salt Lake City Police Department Awards Banquet stemmed from the tragic shooting at Trolley Square in February.
The Medal of Valor, the highest award the department gives, was presented to the five officers who first responded to the shooting spree and put their own lives at risk to stop the gunman. Sgt. Andy Oblad, Sgt. Josh Scharman, detective Dustin Marshall, detective Brett Olsen and Ogden police officer Ken Hammond all received a long standing ovation from their fellow officers and the Salt Lake Rotary Club after receiving their awards.
While Oblad and Hammond kept shooter Sulejman Talovic's attention by yelling at him and exchanging gunfire, the other three officers were able to confront him from behind. Scharman, Olsen and Marshall all fired at and struck Talovic, ending the shooting spree.
Twelve more officers who assisted in evacuating people from the mall and searching for a possible second gunman were awarded the Police Medal.
The emergency dispatchers on duty that night were also honored. The department's communications division, consisting of 10 dispatchers, was awarded the Police Distinguished Unit Citation. In addition, dispatcher Illias Politis was given the Police Distinguished Service Medal for remaining calm under extreme pressure for 4 1/2 hours while working his dispatch channel.
A Public Service Star was awarded to Barrett Dodds, a store owner who was inside Trolley Square when the shooting spree started. Dodds directed people to safe areas after he heard shots being fired. He also risked his own life by throwing a bar stool over the second story balcony onto Talovic in an effort to stop him. Dodds also helped direct Hammond to the area of the mall where Talovic had gone.
The Trolley Square incident wasn't the only tragedy Salt Lake City Police investigated over the past year. On July 16, 2006, 5-year-old Destiny Norton was kidnapped from her yard and killed by her neighbor, Craig Gregerson.
During Tuesday's banquet, members of the Salt Lake City Police Department, FBI, Utah State Crime Lab and Sorenson Forensics were all awarded the Police Distinguished Unit Citation. Destiny's mother, Rachael Norton, who was invited to the banquet, gave a standing ovation to each person after they received their awards.
Then it was the department's turn to honor Rachael Norton. Chief Chris Burbank presented her with her own Distinguished Service Citation, at which time everyone else in the room gave her a standing ovation.
"This was one of the most difficult situations I've ever had to deal with in law enforcement," Burbank said of Destiny's case.
Every member of the police department received a medal of recognition for their work in the Norton case. In an unprecedented gesture, all of those medals were made in pink and white.
"They will be worn on all officers' uniforms from now on in remembrance of a special little girl," Burbank said.
Also Tuesday, detective Cordon Parks received two awards Tuesday for his work with the homicide unit. Parks received the Police Distinguished Service Medal and was named Officer of the Year for bringing a cold case back to life and making an arrest in the 1986 murder of Tiffany Hambleton.
E-mail: preavy@desnews.com