SACRAMENTO- The California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) joins the thousands who gathered along Capitol Mall to salute, celebrate, and congratulate the three, young, California men who took down a heavily armed gunman on a passenger train in France before he had a chance to unleash a massive attack on innocent people.
“It is important for the community, and for we as law enforcement officers, to celebrate citizens who thwart criminal acts in an effort to save lives," said CSLEA President Alan Barcelona. "These young men didn’t duck and cover. They, like many of our CSLEA members, put the safety of others first, confronted danger, addressed and put an end to an attack. I am thankful they are okay and returned home safely to their friends and family.”
Last month, California natives Anthony Sadler, Alek Skarlatos, and Spencer Stone were vacationers aboard a high-speed train heading to Paris when a gunman opened fire. In a split-second decision, the vacationers turned heroes, risking their lives, running toward, instead of away from, the gunman. Together, they charged the heavily armed man and took him down, putting an end to what many feared was a massacre in the making.
Skarlatos, 22, a National Guardsman, heard gunfire and commotion on the train. When a gunman appeared in his car, he yelled "get him." Stone rushed the gunman first, followed by his friends and traveling companions. Stone was injured in the confrontation by the gunman's box cutter.
"What happened on Friday, August 21, 2015, a world away on a train will go down in the history of one of those moments for our city," said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson as he addressed a crowd of thousands who joined in the noon hour celebration at the State Capitol. ""It was not a surprise, nor was it an accident, that of the hundreds of international passengers on that train, that it was three Americans who acted with such courage."
Many spectators carried signs thanking the three heroes who stood tall on a float that made its way up Capitol Mall to the west steps of the Capitol.
"It is a proud day for California, from north to south," said Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins. "This is the best that we have to offer and they are here with us today."
The three young men have been honored and celebrated throughout the world and today were presented with resolutions from the State Assembly and Senate recognizing their heroic acts.
