PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A total of 99 citations were given out Monday morning at Pittsburgh City Hall and this time, it was police officers who were receiving them.

In addition to the citations, awards and medals were also given for meritorious service and even a Purple Heart to an officer injured in the line of duty.

Getting honors and awards for doing their job is not something that comes naturally to police officers.

“I think it means a lot to them to know that the command staff as well as the Major and the Council are behind the officers, especially the great work they are doing out there,” Chief Nate Harper said.

Today, 11 officers were singled out to receive the Medal of Valor, which is the highest honor bestowed by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

One of them went to Officer Christine Bradley, who stood over an injured officer as a van sped at them last September.

“I work with the finest bunch of police officers at Zone One. They deserve just as much recognition as I do today for a job well done,” Officer Bradley said.

Officer Bradley fired her service weapon at the van, causing it to swerve and miss the officers before it crashed.

“That’s not a day I usually have. I speak to Officer Bristow on a regular basis, I’d say every month, and check up on her and she’s doing very well. So, that’s what I’m mostly concerned about is how she is doing in her recovery,” Officer Bradley said.

Ten other officers received the Medal of Valor for their efforts to rescue stranded motorists in the rising floodwaters of Washington Boulevard last August.

While a plaque and a medal are nice, Chief Harper knows a couple of little words said publicly go a long way.

“Two very important words in our English vocabulary are ‘thank you’ and we don’t say it enough or take the time out of our days to say thank you,” Chief Harper said.

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