The Denton Police Department held an awards ceremony Monday to recognize an officer who was shot in the line of duty last October, those who aided in the incident and the apprehension of the suspected gunman.
Officer Urbano Rodriguez was shot twice, once in the head and once in the leg, during a traffic stop on West University Drive on Oct. 29, 2019.
The five-year veteran of the Denton Police Department was the first Denton officer to be shot while on duty since 1992.
“It speaks to his heart, his resilience, his determination – what that family has been through in recent years, you can’t put it into words,” Denton police Chief Frank Dixon said.
Rodriguez received multiple honors including the regional officer of the year award and briefly addressed those in attendance.
“I appreciate you all, that night is, how do I put it,” said Rodriguez, who became emotional while he thanked those who helped him the night of the shooting.
Rodriquez arrived at the ceremony with his family and continues to make progress in hopes of a return to the department in some capacity, Dixon said.
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“We hope that at some point Urban can come back to work in some capacity, whether that is a civilian member or sworn member in our department we want him to be a part of our family forever,” Dixon said.
Denton police also paid tribute to responding officers, first responders and medical staff who cared for Rodriguez after the shooting. During his remarks, Dixon acknowledged how difficult the last year has been but said Rodriquez’s recovery continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the department.
“There is always a silver lining and Urban’s story is one of those,” Dixon said.
