Pensacola Police Officer Greg Gomez is one of the heroes who walk among us.
Since being hired as a cadet by the Pensacola Police Department on March 17, 2014 and promoted to police officer on March 30, 2015, Gomez has repeatedly demonstrated he is someone who exhibits bravery, community involvement, acts of kindness in assisting others, and goes above and beyond the call of duty.
For example, on September 27, 2016, Gomez responded to a call of a woman who was standing on a bridge over Interstate 110. The woman seemed oblivious to her surroundings. Fearing she was going to jump the approximate 30 to 40 feet to the road below at any moment, Officer Gomez approached her and without hesitation grabbed her from behind and pulled her to safety.
On Thursday (June 29), Gomez is scheduled to receive a Lifesaving Award from the Florida Police Chiefs Association. The award will be presented at 11 a.m. in the Hagler Mason Conference Room at City Hall during Mayor Ashton Hayward’s monthly employee recognition program. Phillip Thorne, Chief of the Springfield Police Department and past president of the FPCA, is scheduled to make the presentation.
During the same event on Thursday, Gomez also will receive a congratulatory letter and certificate from Congressman Matt Gaetz.
In recognition for saving the woman’s life, Officer Gomez was named the City of Pensacola’s Employee of the Month in November 2016 and received a Life Saving Award in January 2017 from the Pensacola Police department for the same incident.
“Pensacola Police Officer Greg Gomez clearly exemplifies our core values of courtesy, integrity and professionalism and is totally committed to providing efficient and courteous service to the public,” said Chief Tommi Lyter.
Gomez was a volunteer for the Council on Aging in 2016, and is a field training officer for the Pensacola Police Department.
In between his duties with the Pensacola Police Department, Gomez is a sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves 3rd Force Recon Co. in Mobile, AL. He has had two deployments:
- From July 2011 to August 2012 he was deployed as a lance corporal to Italy and Uganda where he taught basic infantry skills.
- From October 2015 to August 2016 he was deployed as a sergeant to El Salvador as a tactics and swimming instructor where he taught basic and advanced infantry skills, basic amphibious reconnaissance skills and swimming.
Even when he’s off duty, Gomez continues to help people during their times of need. For example, earlier this year Gomez and his wife Brandi encountered an elderly couple stopped on a street at night during a heavy rainstorm. Because the couple didn’t feel comfortable driving home in the storm, Gomez not only got into their car and safely drove them home, but once they reached their destination, he helped them inside.