By Police1 Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A school resource officer who prevented a school shooting was honored and had his own day named after him.
WLS reported that Governor Bruce Rauner declared Wednesday as Officer Mark Dallas Day. Dallas was hailed as a hero when he confronted a gunman at the gym in Dixon High School two weeks ago.
“I heard several shots ring out, in my heart I knew exactly what it was,” Officer Mark Dallas said. “I saw the shooter heading toward the doors of the gymnasium, it appeared he was attempting to go in, I let out some type of yell, I don’t know what I said, but I yelled at the top of my lungs.”
https://twitter.com/DixonPolice/status/1002043998603825154
Dallas pursued the gunman, who shot several rounds at the officer. The SRO returned fire and wounded the gunman, who then surrendered. No one else was injured in the shooting.
The officer was also honored in the Senate and House for being a hometown hero.
“We’ve done all this in an effort to create a day that you won’t forget, because on May 16, you gave us a day we will never forget,” Sen. Tim Bivins said.
While he’s been called a hero, Dallas politely declined that label and said he would much rather wear the title “Dad.”.
https://twitter.com/ilhousegop/status/1001999093860913155