PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The First Responders Appreciation Foundation hosted its annual Law Enforcement Officer Awards luncheon at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens on Wednesday.
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The annual LEO Awards drew its largest pool of nominees in the event's history this year, with more than 300 people submitted across a range of categories, from lifesaving to telecommunications and Civilian of the Year.
One of the ceremony's biggest moments came when Port St. Lucie Police Sergeant Erik Levasseur took the stage to receive the Valor Award.
Levasseur survived being shot in the face with an AK-47 last year. He received a standing ovation and thanked the fellow officers and the doctor who saved his life.
"Four out of the five guys that were on my squad that night are here, too. Without them being there on the scene I probably wouldn't be here," Levasseur said.
The ceremony, hosted by Navy veteran and WPTV anchor Mike Trim, highlighted the dangerous calls and split-second decisions officers face every day.
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Read WPTV's coverage of the winners of this year's awards:
Region St Lucie County
Sergeant nominated for LEO Award after being shot in face
Palm Beach Gardens
IRCSO deputies nominated for LEO Award after deadly eviction shooting
Region St Lucie County
'It's an honor': Officer nominated for LEO Award after rescuing stranded woman
West Palm Beach
West Palm Beach dispatcher went beyond her headset to help a friend in crisis
Lake Worth Beach / Boynton Beach / Lantana
2 school officers recount disarming intruder at Lake Worth High School
Palm Beach County
