Red Oak grad receives Medal of Valor

A Red Oak graduate received a special honor from President Barack Obama on May 16. 

Omaha Police officer Coral Walker was one of the recipients of the Medal of Valor, which is awarded to public safety officers who have exhibited exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect others from harm.

Walker, who moved to Red Oak in 1977 with his parents, John and Anita Walker, graduated from Red Oak in 1986. Walker worked as a jailer and a reserve deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and later joined the Omaha Police Department in 2000. Walker patrols southeast Omaha, from Dodge Street to the Sarpy County line, and 42nd Street east to the Iowa border. 

Walker was nominated by his chief for his efforts to stop an active shooter in 2013. 

“We had an active shooter in southeast Omaha in June of that year. He had shot four individuals at random while he was on foot. He knew the first victim, but did not know any of the subsequent victims. I was able to engage him, and stop him,” Walker said. 

Walker said the process to receive the Medal of Valor is lengthy, and the ceremony he attended this year honored recipients from 2013-15. 

Walker has been to Washington , D.C., before, but never for an event like this. 

“We had the ceremony in the White House.  It was a wonderful thing to go back for. Quite an honor,” Walker commented. 

In addition to the Medal of Valor, Walker said President Obama had special words for him and his department. 

“He was very proud of the Omaha Police Department. I was included with a total of 13 officers who were nominated for the award. He was just happy that all of us were doing the good work. Those were his exact words, ‘The good work’,” said Walker. 

The Medal of Valor award was something that Walker never expected he would receive. 

“It was a once in a lifetime thing for sure.  At no time did I ever thing that anything like this would happen in my career.”

Walker added that in all his years of service, doing his job the best he can is all he strives for. 

“As any officer will tell you, you do what you do. You do your job. You’re not looking for medals or anything like that. When something like this happens, it’s pretty impressive,” said Walker.

Walker has been very pleased with his time within the Omaha Police Department, and his fellow officers. 

“I’m very proud of the department and the people I work with. I have a lot of good people on my crew with me. My wife works with me on the crew also. She’s part of a fantastic support group that I have.”