Middletown Police Officer Awarded New York State Medal of Valor

Middletown Police Officer Evan Barone speaks after being presented with the award of New York State Police Officer Medal of Valor at Paramount Theatre in Middletown, N.Y., on Nov. 1, 2022. Cara Ding/The Epoch Times

Middletown officer Evan Barone received the 2020 New York State Police Officer Medal of Valor from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado at the Paramount Theatre on Nov. 2.

Barone is the first Middletown officer to get the award since its inception in 1984.

“I am incredibly grateful for this amazing, prestigious, and honorable award. I am also grateful to be alive—I am incredibly thankful for that,” Barone said after receiving the award.

On Aug. 29, 2020, Barone, a 26-year-old neighborhood enhancement officer, was patrolling alone in a marked police car when he was flagged down by a female resident who said her former boyfriend had entered her Myrtle Avenue house without permission and she needed help.

Barone followed her and drove up to the house.

Barely had Barone gotten out of the car, when Desean Owens exited the residence and—without any warning—fired at Barone, who quickly returned fire and struck Owens.

A bullet entered Barone’s left arm, damaging a nerve and shattering a bone before lodging in his police vest.

Despite the injury, Barone managed to put Owens under arrest before additional help arrived.

At the time of the shooting, a car behind Barone had children inside.

Middletown Police Officer Evan Barone (L) received the award of New York State Police Officer Medal of Valor from Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado  on Nov. 1, 2022. Cara Ding/The Epoch Times

“There were people all around him when this occurred. I truly believe that if it wasn’t for Officer Barone being there at that moment and stopping that individual, he was going to cause harm to others,” Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw told The Epoch Times in a previous interview.

On Oct. 12, Owens was sentenced by an Orange County judge to 58-and-a-half years in state prison.

Barone still undergoes medical treatment for his injury and has not returned to work at the police department.

“You clearly love the work of protecting and serving the public. It is that love that makes great what you do. We are grateful for you and for what you represent,” Delgado said at the award ceremony.

“I want to thank Officer Barone and his family for the sacrifices he has made to keep us safe, as well as Gov. [Kathy] Hochul and Lt. Gov. Delgado for recognizing officer Barone’s brilliant act,” Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano said at the ceremony.

This year, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services chose Barone out of 30 nominations from eight police departments and two sheriff’s offices.

The award, also known as the Governor’s Police Officer of the Year, started in 1984 and has been presented to 122 officers from 21 law enforcement agencies in New York.