Trump awards posthumous Medals of Sacrifice to fallen Palm Beach law enforcement officers
Source: Scripps News
Posted 8:38 PM, May 19, 2025
President Donald Trump awarded the first Medals of Sacrifice posthumously to fallen Palm Beach, Florida, law enforcement officers Monday. The fallen officers were Corporal Luis Paez Jr., Deputy Sheriff Ralph Butch Waller Jr. and Deputy Sheriff Ignacio Dan Diaz, of the Palm Beach County Sheriffs Office.
Family and loved ones of the deceased officers received the honor in the Oval Office, flanked by President Trump, Florida Congressmen Brian Mast and Byron Donalds, and Eric and Lara Trump. They were really close friends and colleagues and together they dedicated their lives to protecting the people of Palm Beach County and well beyond. And they were beloved by everyone and responded by all, really really top of the line people, President Trump said.
The trio were killed in November 2024 when a driver struck them as they were working on a disabled motorcycle vehicle on the side of the road. This was a terrible tragedy. It was, it shook the entire Palm Beach community like very, very few events Ive ever seen, President Trump said. Trump attended the memorial service. One simple question was asked, 'Why is there no medal, Medal of Valor, Medal of Sacrifice, that commemorates law enforcement officers, first responders who have fallen in line of duty?' Eric Trump said during the presentation.
On Monday Florida Rep. Brian Mast introduced a bill in Congress that seeks to allow the president to bestow a similar medal to law enforcement officers and first responders killed in the line of duty.
Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/the-president/trump-awards-posthumous-medals-of-sacrifice-to-fallen-palm-beach-law-enforcement-officers
Made-up "awards" but a refusal to install a damn plaque to recognize the Capitol police - some who gave their lives to protect the Capitol from an insurrection that you stoked.

SheilaAnn
(10,429 posts)travelingthrulife
(2,680 posts)HereForTheParty
(915 posts)Of all that have died in the line of duty? Genuinely curious.
BumRushDaShow
(154,718 posts)because Palm Beach, FL is the town where Mar-a-Lago is located and is his current listed "official residence".
JohnnyRingo
(19,976 posts)I figured it was honoring them for a deed above and beyond instead of someone's negligence.
I'm sure they should be recognized for losing their lives in the line of duty, but they weren't shooting it out with terrorists or raiding a crack house. Why these guys?
There's more to this than we know.