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Friday was a proud but somber day for five police officers honored on Capitol Hill for bravery in the line of duty for stopping a massacre at Trolley Square.
Utah's elected leaders praised Ogden police Officer Kenneth Hammond, and Salt Lake City police Sgts. Andy Oblad and Josh Scharman and detectives Dustin Marshall and Brett Olsen.
Five people died and four were seriously injured by a gunman at the mall on Monday evening.
Were it not for their speedy intervention, many more would have died, officials say.
Flanked by wives and children and followed by a cadre of police colleagues, the honored officers arrived at the Legislature to standing ovations in both the Senate and the House. They also received a proclamation from Huntsman that was delivered by Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert.
Earlier in the day, Salt Lake County District Attorney Lohra Miller ruled the officers' actions were justified under the law.
"Each of these officers are heros, and they have my thanks," she said.
On Utah's Capitol Hill, the officers were praised by Senate President John Valentine, who presented each man with a certificate of valor after the Senate clerk, choking up at times, read a proclamation honoring each of them for bravery.
In the House, the police officers were applauded by Speaker Greg Curtis for their "valor, dignity and courage."
"Our hearts are full of gratitude," he said.
Sen. Jon Greiner, who is Ogden's police chief, awarded Hammond the Ogden medal of honor.
Hammond was on a dinner date with his wife, Sarita, at Trolley Square when he heard shooting. Hammond, armed with a .45-caliber handgun, sent his wife to call 911 and approached a man wielding a shotgun.
Hammond kept the man, later identified as Sulejman Talovic, 18, at bay until other officers could arrive.
"I consider this an honor to be here today," Hammond said upon accepting the award. "I'd like to say thank you very much to the Salt Lake City police officers" who came to his assistance.
Republican Majority Leader Sen. Curt Bramble also lauded the officers.
"We truly thank you and honor you."
Police Chief Chris Burbank received a citation from the Legislature recognizing the entire Salt Lake City Police Department.
Burbank commended Hammond as well as Oblad, Scharman, Marshall and Olsen. He noted that many other officers responded to Trolley Square on Monday night.
"Because they got there first, they are receiving the recognition," he said. "But they are representative of all our officers."
Oblad, Scharman, Marshall and Olsen all declined interviews, said Burbank.
The chief said the officers, who remain on administrative leave, were traumatized by the events at Trolley Square and need time to recuperate.
"They feel remorse," he said. "They feel sad they were unable to save more people."
Hammond was the first to confront and distract Talovic. A Salt Lake City police officer arrived a short time later and exchanged fire with Talovic, who was then approached from behind by three SWAT team members, who ordered him to surrender then opened fire, investigators said Friday.
Miller said the five cops shot at Talovic after he was "given ample time to drop his weapon and being warned. . . . After that he continued to fire at the officers."
Utah law allows peace officers to kill if "deadly force is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person."
When Talovic began shooting, Hammond went toward the sound of gunfire, firing at least one shot at Talovic from the balcony above the first floor.
Oblad entered Trolley Square from the south pedestrian bridge, district attorney investigator Cortney Nelson said at Friday's news conference. Oblad met up with Hammond, and the pair engaged Talovic.
Talovic, 18, was alternating shots between a pump-action shotgun and a .38-caliber pistol he retrieved from a backpack that was also full of extra ammunition, Miller said.
Meanwhile, Scharman and detectives Brett Olsen and Dustin Marshall, all members of Salt Lake City's gang and SWAT teams, sped to Trolley Square from police headquarters, Nelson said. The three grabbed shoulder weapons and entered Trolley Square through the north doors of Pottery Barn.
As Talovic was shooting at Oblad and Hammond, the three SWAT members approached Talovic from behind, Miller said. They ordered Talovic to put down his weapon, Miller said.
Talovic began to turn toward the SWAT officers, Miller said. That's when the three officers fired. Talovic fell in Pottery Barn Kids.
The time elapsed from the first 911 call until police killed Talovic was six minutes.
Miller said they don't know how many shots were fired either by police or Talovic nor do they know how many times Talovic was hit, which officers struck him or who fired the fatal shot.
Police Chief Chris Burbank said the four officers from his department are still on administrative leave pending the results of a standard internal affairs investigation. Hammond is on administrative leave from the Ogden Police Department as it conducts its own internal review.
Even after that investigation concludes, it could be several weeks before the Salt Lake City cops return to duty, Burbank said.
"They're traumatized," Burbank said. "They feel remorse for the force they had to use." The chief said the officers also are saddened they weren't able to get to the mall sooner.
Burbank said Oblad had to pass by shooting victims and resist rendering them aid in order to find and stop the killer.