The Belleuve Police Department gave an honor typically reserved for its own officers to a La Vista officer for his efforts in the wake of a shooting at a Sonic restaurant that stunned the Bellevue community.

La Vista Police Officer Karl Meister was among the law enforcement officers who responded to a call of an active shooter on Nov. 21.

“The efforts by all personnel responding were both vallent and heroic,” Bellevue Police Chief Ken Clary said in a video shared by the department. “There is no doubt that additional lives were saved due to the combined response and participation of all first responders.”

The city also thanked the La Vista, Papillion and Omaha police departments; Douglas and Sarpy county sheriff’s offices; Nebraska State Patrol; Omaha and Papillion-La Vista fire departments; and the ATF and FBI.

Clary also thanked communications specialists and the Sarpy County Tactical Medical Team, which is made up of specially trained police officers and civilian doctors who respond to multiple casualty incidents.

Meister is a member of that team, and doctors at a hospital later confirmed that he saved the life of one of the victims. He was presented with a pin and certificate in a short ceremony at Bellevue City Hall.

“As sad of a situation as it was, I was thankful to be there – thankful to be able to use what we’ve trained for and we’ve prepared for to ultimately save a life,” Meister said. “We’ve thought about the families every day, and we keep them in our thoughts.”