By Staff
special to the standard
A Mobile County Sheriff's deputy, with ties to Brewton, will be honored in Washington D.C., May 12, and given the Top Cop Award for his actions in January of 2007.
Lieutenant Carlos Thompson, who is married to a Brewton native, was selected from hundreds of nominations for the Police Organization's National Cop Award.
He will be honored in a ceremony at the beginning of Police Week. He was selected for the award for his actions during a confrontation with an armed suspect.
While on duty, Lieutenant Thompson attempted to perform a traffic stop after spotting a car matching a description of a suspect vehicle involved in an armed robbery. The driver of the car failed to heed the police car lights and in fact, fled the scene. Thompson pursued the suspect and was fired upon by an assault rifle. He was struck in the lower leg and hip, seriously injuring him.
Thompson returned fire with his pistol and was shot in the elbow, which was shattered by the high speed of the assault rifle.
He was able to use one hand to reload his weapon and continued to return fire until he saw the suspect fall to the ground.
The Top Cop Award pays tribute to the men and women in law enforcement who go beyond the call of duty.
Thompson is married to Vivian Motton, daughter of Celesta Motton of Brewton.