Watch CBS News

City Officer Shot In Line Of Duty While Protecting Partner, Awarded Congressional Badge of Bravery

BALTIMORE (WJZ) --  A Baltimore City officer, Detective Thomas Young is awarded a Congressional Badge of Bravery, after being hit by three bullets in the line of duty, surviving a November 2015 shootout with a suspect.

Each day, officers put their lives on the line, protecting themselves and others, but on one night in November, one officer was shot protecting his partner.

However Detective Young says he didn't think, just reacted.

City Police Detective Thomas Young was all smiles as he received the Congressional Badge of Bravery from U.S. Representative Dutch Ruppersberger.

His pride was far cry from the night he was shot while conducting a narcotics investigation in Park Heights in northwest Baltimore. In an attempt to protect his partner, Detective Thomas was shot three times.

"There wasn't a whole lot of thought process, just reaction," says Det. Thomas Young, Congressional Badge of Bravery honoree.

A very humbled man, and of few words, when talking about himself and his recent honor.

He shows reporter Marcus Washington where one bullet hit and still remains in his calf. Two other grazing his outer thigh.

"Tommy always, since he was a young boy, wanted to protect people. That's just in him. So proud that [he] received that and recognition of that and that he's able to receive it," says Det. Young's Diane Young.

The Congressional Badge of Bravery honorees are selected by the U.S. attorney general and presented to the honoree by their congressional representative.

This is Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger's first time bestowing the honor.

"I'm just so proud to see that we have one of our own, in an area where I grew up Baltimore City, that is receiving this award," says Congressman Ruppersberger.

"I'm very honored, it's a very nice thing. I don't feel I deserve it, but it's a nice thing," says Detective Young.

After this tragic situation, Detective Young is a Green Bay Packers fan, and he was scheduled to go to a game, before being shot.

Packers' quarterback Aaron Rodgers heard about the incident an awarded Det. Young with 50-yard line seat tickets to an upcoming game.

The Congressional Badge of Bravery honor is awarded annually to federal, state and local law enforcement officers, who engage in exceptional acts of bravery while in the line of duty.

Follow @CBSBaltimore on Twitter and like WJZ-TV | CBS Baltimore on Facebook

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.