Police officers often find themselves in the midst of shootouts with suspects. Whether they're responding to a robbery, chasing down grand theft auto perpetrators, or responding to domestic abuse, the threat is always there.

One Las Vegas officer is being awarded a medal for his last encounter.

Many Shootouts

Keith Borders, an officer with the Metro Police in Las Vegas, has been in Law Enforcement for nine years. In that time frame he has been involved in six different shootouts.

However, there is one in particular that stands out in his mind above the rest. It all went down when he responded to a domestic disturbance call in April of 2001.

Borders arrived on scene to an intoxicated man later identified as Don Mettinger. After a brief interaction, Mettinger retreated into the house and came back out armed to the teeth.

As Mettinger came back out and engaged Borders in a harrowing gunfight, The brave officer pulled Mettinger's girlfriend behind the police car and shielded her with his body.

Mettinger clearly knew how to tactically operate in a gunfight. He was armed with multiple firearms. He utilized cover and concealment effectively, impressing officer Borders.

During the gunfight, both sides took effective fire but officer Borders won. Despite multiple wounds, including shotgun pellets to the head, he shielded the woman and took down the bad guy.

Highest Honor

To this day, Borders still has four pellets inside his head. This incident was his third time being shot in the line of duty. "I don't run too fast or jump too high anymore," says Borders.

Officer Keith Borders received a Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor in 2003, an honor that is currently the highest available in the country to First Responders.

The prestigious award was presented to him by Vice President Cheney and Attorney General John Ashcroft in a ceremony at the Capitol.

"It's a wonderful honor. But I don't do anything to win awards. My job is to make sure the good guys win, and the bad guys don't."

Keith Borders

His supervisor, Capt. Tom Conlin was "extremely proud" of Borders and his award, which he should be.

"When someone becomes a police officer, they know they may have to take a life at some point and may have to give their life to save someone. Without thinking twice, Borders literally shields this woman with his body. He took several bullets for her, someone he doesn't know."

Capitan Tom Conlin

Just Doing His Job

While Borders did not feel like he deserved an award for the steps he took to save another life, it's clear that he earned it. He went above what many would do in that situation and was prepared to sacrifice his own life for another.

Military Servicemembers and First Responders often feel they are "just doing their job" when they do something heroic. However, it means the world to the lives touched by their bravery.

We honor Officer Keith Borders and every other man and woman ready to do as he did.

Source: Las Vegas Sun