Gov. Rick Scott presented Marion County Dep. Jim Long with the Medal of Heroism on Thursday during a ceremony at the county’s emergency operations center.
Long, a school resource officer, is credited with swinging into action last week when a gunman identified as 19-year-old Sky Bouche opened fire on the second floor of Forest High School. Long apprehended and arrested Bouche within three minutes of hearing the shot that injured a 17-year-old student.
“He put his own life at risk to keep his students safe,” Scott said. “Because of his bravery, this tragedy never had the chance to unfold.”
While presenting an emotional Long with the award, Scott said it’s only presented to those who risk their lives above and beyond the call of duty.
“This is about the most special honor that anybody can receive in our state,” Scott said. “We all know that anybody who’s willing to risk their life to save others is an absolute hero.”
Pam Stewart, who serves as commissioner of the Florida Department of Education, echoed those sentiments, adding that school resource officers play an extremely important role in the education and safety of students.
“He is not about these accolades,” said Stewart of Long, who was surrounded by family members. “He is about doing the job of keeping students safe every single day,” added the longtime Marion County educator who once served as principal of Vanguard High School.
An emotional Long said the effort to stop the school shooting was a team effort.
“The people at Forest High School were great and I couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “I graduated from there in 1989. It’s dear to my heart.”
Sheriff Billy Woods said he is quite proud of Long and the more than 100 law enforcement officers from throughout Central Florida who responded to help the morning of the shooting.
“I told the students that they didn’t run in because of the professionals that we are in law enforcement,” he said. “They went in because every one of them is either a father, a mother, a husband or a wife. That’s why they ran in, because they love those they serve.”