Grapevine police officer named a Top Cop

Sayre has worked with the department since 2006. He was one of a three-officer group who shot and killed escaped convict Alberto Morales in February 2013. Morales, serving 30 years for sexual assault, had fled days before from officers conducting a prisoner transfer.

Eberling said Morales stabbed one of the two detectives in his transport detail with a broken eyeglass earpiece in order to escape, and had been on the run for days when residents of an area near Lake Grapevine reported a nighttime break-in at their home.

Eberling said the group was within 15 feet of Morales when he appeared from behind a tree and refused to follow orders from the officers. Morales rushed and the officers fired on him, killing him, Eberling said.

On top of the three honorees from Texas, other award-winners included officers from Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Ohio.