Pueblo officers involved in deadly shooting receive high honor

Heroes in Pueblo are being honored for their actions to keep Pueblo safe.

Sgt. Daniel Anderson said he will never forget the life-or-death decision he had to make.

“He started firing at our officers at which we returned fire,” he said.

Anderson was one of the officers involved in a deadly shootout with home invasion suspect Orlando Jude Lopez on Pueblo’s East Side near Praise Assembly of God Church in January.

“It’s unfortunate that it had the end results it did, what I look at is I go home and my guys go home,” Anderson said.

Anderson is one of six officers to receive the Pueblo Police Department’s highest honor, the Medal of Valor. They were some of the heroes who were honored at the department’s annual Awards Banquet.

“I think it’s incredibly important to recognize people for doing a great job,” Police Chief Luis Velez said.

34 people received awards at the ceremony.