Plano officer named finalist for national award

PLANO, Texas - A police officer who puts his own life on the line is a finalist for a big award – National Officer of the Year.

Officer Taylor Rust met President Donald Trump on Monday.

Last year, he was the first on the scene of a deadly shooting in Plano where eight people were killed. He rushed into the home and shot and killed the gunman.

Officer Rust’s actions may have saved the lives of four other people in the house.

“It’s been a humbling experience and an honor to be spoken in the same breath as the three other officers,” he said.

The National Officer of the Year award is given annually by the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Officer Rust was chosen from more than 140 other officers nominated by their chiefs. The other finalists are from Florida, Illinois and Washington.