PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Several police officers were recognized Wednesday night by Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 for their roles during two different incidents in Philadelphia.
Officer Arcenio Perez was one of the four police officers who responded to the deadly shooting inside Jefferson Hospital in October.
Hospital employee Anrae James was allegedly shot and killed by Stacey Hayes, who then took off. Police tracked him down to East Parkside, where Hayes shot Officer Perez in the arm before he was taken into custody.
Hayes is expected to plead guilty next week.
Perez said the FOP recognition helps with his recovery process.
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"I'm still fighting. It's definitely been an uphill battle. But I'm doing all the necessary steps, surgeries, therapy, and hopefully one day I'll get back to where I was, back on patrol,” said Perez.
FOP President John McNesby said about another 100 officers were also recognized for the way they held off protesters from near the 18th District Police headquarters in October 2020.
Hundreds of people marched to 55th and Pine streets after Walter Wallace was shot and killed by responding police.
Philadelphia Police Capt. Matthew Gillespie says family members of offices also need recognition.
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“While the officers and the supervisors are getting awarded, the spouses need one too,” said Gillespie.
“My wife is home with two babies for 30-plus hours straight while ATM machines were blowing up across the city. Sirens off in the distance. And the wives and spouses didn't know what was going on.”
Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and others took part in recognizing the officers.
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