A Pulaski County deputy was presented the Missouri Medal of Valor award for an extraordinary act of bravery and heroism by Gov. Jay Nixon on Thursday.

Deputy Donald Hayden received the state’s highest public safety award in connection with a June 2008 shooting incident in Dixon in which Hayden was shot four times, and while severely injured, remained on site and returned fire in order to protect innocent bystanders.

Gov. Nixon presented 2008 Medal of Valor awards to six other public safety officers as well.

“These officers, who come from across the state, represent the very best of Missouri’s public safety community,” Nixon said. “Each act of bravery was different, but in every instance, these officers acted selflessly without concern for their own safety and helped save the lives of their fellow Missourians. I am proud to stand with them, and on behalf of all Missourians, I thank them for their outstanding service and the fine examples they set of what public service can be.

“I am continually impressed by the dedication of the men and women of Missouri’s public-safety community. They and their families sacrifice daily so that we can have better and safer communities across this state. All Missourians owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who selflessly work to protect us,” Nixon said.

Pulaski County Sheriff J.B. King, who recommended Hayden for the award, attended the ceremony with Hayden at the state Capitol.

“Deputy Donald Hayden’s act of extraordinary courage, coupled with a complete disregard for his personal safety, was conducted in accordance with the highest traditions of the law-enforcement profession,” King said.

“Law enforcement frequently requires officers to place themselves in harm’s way,” King said. “And officers do it because they think it’s just part of the job. But, in Deputy Hayden’s case, he abandoned a sound, tactical position, drove across a lawn and used his patrol car to physically block a suspect from coming back to a home where he (the suspect) had fired shots and shot at people when he (the suspect) was leaving the scene.”