Kevin Valencia, the Orlando police officer who was left in a coma after being shot in the head during a domestic violence call in 2018, was awarded a purple heart by the Orlando Police Department as he retired from the agency Tuesday.
His wife, Meghan Valencia, accepted the award, which OPD said only a handful of officers have received, on her husband’s behalf. She also said he is beginning to show signs of improvement.
“A few days ago he began interacting with Meghan by rubbing her head and giving her a kiss,” a statement released by the agency said.
Kevin Valencia responded to a domestic violence call on June 10, 2018, after a woman said she was assaulted by her boyfriend, Gary Wayne Lindsey Jr.
She ran to a nearby 7-Eleven, leaving her four kids locked in their bedrooms in the apartment. She told officers Lindsey had dragged her by the hair to her bedroom, where he kicked her in the face about five times. Valencia and other officers went to Westbrook Apartments and tried to enter with a key, but it broke off.
Valencia was trying to kick down the door when Lindsey fired a shot, hitting the officer in the head.
– Original Credit: Orlando Police Department
– Original Source: Orlando Police Department
It prompted a day-long standoff at the apartment, which ended with officers entering the apartment and finding the four children — Dove, 1; Aidan, 6; Lillia, 10; and Irayan, 12 — dead inside. Lindsey was also dead. Investigators said Lindsey likely killed the children before or shortly after the standoff began, then later killed himself.
An internal investigation later determined Valencia’s supervisor violated department policy and Fourth Amendment rights against unlawful search and seizure by ordering Valencia to kick down the door.
The Orlando police pension board approved Valencia’s retirement earlier this year. At Tuesday’s ceremony, Valencia also received a plaque awarding him the honorary title of K9 handler, as he had expressed interest in working with police dogs before his injury.
A GoFundMe started by the Orlando police officers union raised over $200,000 and a free Pitbull concert collected $1 million to help his family with medical expenses.
