FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The police officer who found Marjory Stoneman Douglas High shooter Nikolas Cruz and took him into custody doesn't seem himself as a hero.
"It's not about me. It's about my brothers and sisters in law enforcement, fire rescue, first responders. We all had a role that day," Coconut Creek Officer Michael Leonard told Broward County commissioners as they honored him Tuesday. "I'm honored to wear the badge."
The commission proclaimed Tuesday Officer Michael Leonard and Coconut Creek Police Department Appreciation Day.
Leonard said he was "just doing my job that day" when he spotted Cruz and detained him in Coral Springs about three miles away from the Parkland High school where 17 were killed and another 16 injured on Valentine's Day.
Leonard, who has an 18-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter, struggled to maintain his emotions talking about his role in apprehending Cruz a little more than an hour after the shootings took place.
"When you come against evil like that and you have children at home that are about that age, it's very close to my heart. It was difficult, but I'm so honored that I was able to be a part and do my part and take this killer into custody," Leonard said.
Leonard knew Cruz might still be armed.
"Based on some radio traffic, I was able to determine who he was," the officer said. "I knew that there were individuals that had passed away already at this killer's hands."
As it turned out, Cruz did not resist arrest, Leonard said. He could not comment more about the interaction because of ongoing investigations, he said.
Leonard wasn't ready to accept the title of hero, saying all those who were involved that day were heroes.
"They're all heroes," he said. "I was just doing my job that day."
