COMMERCE – The State of Texas will honor three local law enforcement personnel for their heroics during last year's shooting at the Commerce Wal-Mart.
Commerce Police Lt. Terry Miller and Officer James Hildebrand, along with then Delta County Sheriff's deputy Paul Robertson, have been chosen as Medal of Valor recipients, one of the highest honors in the state.
On March 7, 2010, Lt. Miller and Officer Hildebrand responded to a suspect firing rounds from a car in Greenville and traveling towards Commerce. The two intercepted the vehicle a couple miles south of town on Highway 50, exchanging gunfire with the suspect before he continued to flee toward Wal-Mart.
The man; later identified as Artenio Rodriguez, of Commerce, encountered off-duty Delta County Sheriff's Deputy Paul Robertson inside the store's entrance, shooting and injuring the officer. Rodriguez was then shot and killed by Officer Hildebrand.
The men will be honored during a ceremony at the State Capitol on June 3 for placing their lives in danger to save the life of a fellow officer and citizens.
You can hear Scott Harvey's interview with Lt. Miller and Officer Hildebrand during The Lead, beginning Friday at 10 a.m.