(Washington D.C.) - A La Porte County Sheriff’s deputy recovering from being shot was recognized on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday.
2nd Congressman Rudy Yakym gave a brief presentation about the chain of events leading up to officer Jon Samuelson being shot on May 22 at Franciscan Health hospital in Michigan City. Yakym standing next to a portrait of Samuelson in uniform started his speech by saying “I rise to honor a hero.”
Samuelson stopped to help who he thought was a stranded motorist, who asked to be taken to the hospital. He left after escorting the man inside the hospital but soon returned after learning the man was suspected of stealing his mother’s car in Chicago at gunpoint.
“What began as kindness quickly escalated into a violent confrontation,” Yakym said.
Yakym said Samuelson is credited with saving the life of a nurse who was in the line of fire of a gun he deflected away from the suspect, Sharod Grafton, 22, of Chicago.
“That is a definition of sacrifice and service,” he said.
Yakym said Samuelson, a fourth generation police officer, didn’t overlook the risks of the job when he decided to become involved in law enforcement.
“To his wife, Quinn, we stand with you as Jon recovers. May God continue to have his healing hand on Jon,” he said.
Samuelson is currently at a rehabilitation center in Chicago continuing what’s expected to be a long recovery.
