The Orlando Police Department (OPD) has released the names of the officers involved in a shootout with the Omar Mateen, 29, who attacked Pulse Nightclub on Sunday morning.
The first to engage the shooter was Officer Adam Gruler, a member of OPD since 2001. He was working “extra duty” (working for the nightclub as a police officer; OPD allows off-duty officers to supplement their income with private security work in this way). He exchanged shots with the shooter, who then moved farther into the club.
Scenes From the Tragic Aftermath of the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting
Police officers direct family members away from a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Phelan M. Ebenhack—APPolice and forensics investigators work at the crime scene of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016. Carlo Allegri—Reuters Friends and family members embrace outside the Orlando Police Headquarters during the investigation of a shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Steve Nesius—ReutersPolice investigate the Pulse nightclub following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMETatiana Osorio cries while giving blood at the OneBlood blood center near the mass shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016. Osorio lost three friends in the shooting. David Goldman—APA memorial honors the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEA woman reacts as authorities investigate Pulse following a mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEA reporter pauses at the Hampton Inn where relatives of victims gather for information in Orlando, Fla., on
June, 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEA remembrance for Eric Rivera, killed in the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub, sits amongst a makeshift memorial for the victims in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.David Goldman—APMourners attend a makeshift vigil for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEHundreds of people gather at a memorial outside of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.John Taggart—EPAA memorial honors victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting at the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEA mourner attends a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEReporters wait to interview relatives of victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 13, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMESeddique Mateen, father of Pulse nightclub gunman Omar Mateen, outside his home in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., on June 14, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIMEPresident Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden depart a makeshift memorial after placing flowers in memory of shooting victims of the massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., on June 16, 2016. Carlos Barria—ReutersMourners attend a makeshift vigil and a moment of silence for victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla., on June 12, 2016.Christopher Morris—VII for TIME
The other officers and SWAT members who later showed up on the scene were Lieutenant Scott Smith, Sergeant Jeffrey Backhaus, Officer Timothy Stanley, Officer Kevin Easterling, Officer Andrew Bishop, Sergeant James Parker, Detective Raul Rivas, Lieutenant Jonathan Bigelow, Officer Ricardo Duenas and Officer Michael Napolitano, whose Kevlar helmet was hit in the shootout.
