At the end of 2020, the Albert Lea community faced two huge events, shooting at the Shady Oaks Apartments and a fire in a warehouse.
Now those that responded are being honored. The Albert Lea Department of Public Safety wanted to honor its officers and firefighters for their hard work and efforts during those incidents.
At the end of November in 2020, shots were fired at the Shady Oaks Apartment complex in Albert Lea. Three people were shot including a police officer.
"It was just another normal day up until that point," said Albert Lea Patrol Officer, Kody Needham.
Needham was the first officer on the scene and was shot in the chest by the shooter.
"I'm very proud of all the people that responded after the fact that they actually knew what they were going into, so that says a lot about them," said Needham.