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GREENSBORO — Eight police officers involved in a Feb. 9 car chase and ensuing gun battle with two bank robbery suspects along Patterson Street were among those receiving top honors the Greensboro Police and Citizens Award banquet Thursday night.

That February afternoon, Officers J.P. Randazzo and G.D. Jones chased two suspects fleeing in a vehicle after the robbery of the Wachovia at 3608 High Point Road in rush hour traffic as police said the suspects shot at them from their vehicle.

As the chase neared Interstate 40, several officers converged on the chase and Officer M.P. O’Hal attempted to stop the fleeing vehicle by laying down stop sticks to flatten the suspects’ tires.

The driver tried avoid the sticks and lost control of the vehicle — hitting O’Hal in the legs and flipping him into the roadway — where he was left exposed and unable to move.

The suspects opened fire on the officers. O’Hal, Randazzo, Jones — along with Officers E.K. Wrenn, K.D. Bennett, J.R. Flynt and Sgt. JT Cranford fired back upon arriving on the scene.Cpl. J.D. Slone was credited for driving his vehicle into a Feb. 9  gunfight assisting officers making an arrest. One of the suspects was killed by gunfire.

O’Hal was shot twice during the battle and Randazzo was credited with pulling him to safety as bullets were flying.

Jason Bowman, a citizen who was pistol-whipped by the suspects at the bank, but called 911 and gave descriptions of their getaway vehicle and followed their vehicle, giving turn by turn locations to police dispatchers. He received a Certificate of Merit for his actions.

O’Hal, Jones and Randazzo received the department’s Medal of Honor, while Wrenn, Bennett, Flynt, Slone and Cranford received Medals of Valor. O’Hal, who endured bullet wounds to the hip and calf that required surgery, also received a Purple Heart.

“I was doing my job and did what was necessary — it was the last spot before they hit I-40 and we could have had catastrophic injuries to the public,” O’Hal said Thursday night before the awards, reflecting on that day.

“Everyone as a whole did an impeccable job. I am extremely blessed to be here — it was my worst nightmare come true.”

Randazzo credited Bowman’s courage to put his life on the line and follow the suspects as the reason the officers were able to put a stop to the suspects’ rampage before an innocent bystander was hurt or killed.

“We wouldn’t have been able to do our jobs and protect and serve the citizens of Greensboro without him,” Randazzo said. “It was an honor, (the eight) of us did what we were trained to do.”

Other Medal of Valor recipients were Officers T.D. Moore, B.A. Altizer and Cpl. H.E. Summers for their actions in a Sept. 14 shoot out with a homicide suspect on Meadowview Street.

Their actions under fire were credited with saving citizens and each others' lives.

“Putting your life on the line is beyond any words than I can express,” Police Chief Tim Bellamy said. “It speaks to the commitment these officers have for their jobs and for their fellow officers.”

Detective M.V. Francis, won the department’s Officer of the Year for his work in the residential property crimes unit. Maxine Hughes, a supervisor in the department’s records division, received the Police Employee of the Year award. W.S. Raines was named Reserve Officer of the Year.

Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com