IHOP shootings:NHP honors staff for courageous response

Five Nevada Highway Patrol officers and three dispatchers received commendations Friday for their handling of the mass shootings at the IHOP restaurant on Sept. 6.

The lieutenant in charge, a sergeant and three troopers, were given meritorious service medals in a ceremony at the Emergency Management Center. They were praised for their courage and dedication in securing the scene, assisting Carson City sheriff's deputies and, as they were among the first to arrive, entering the restaurant "at great personal risk."

The three dispatch personnel were awarded commendation medals for their cool and professional handling of calls to get officers there and organize their efforts.

Those honored were Lt. Kevin Bailey, Sgt. Todd Hartline, Troopers Sean Giurlani, Scott Morron and Chris Austin and dispatchers Jennifer Schmidt and Sara Macias as well as dispatch supervisor Serenity Simpson.

Eduardo Sencion, 32, shot 11 people, killing four of them before turning the weapon on himself. When dispatch started fielding calls, area law enforcement didn't know if it was an isolated incident or a terrorist attack.

Chris Perry, head of the Department of Public Safety, said he agreed with reopening the IHOP and that he and some public safety officers ate there on Thursday.

"We're happy that business continues to thrive," he said. "Whether it's a domestic terrorist or an international terrorist, they don't get to win."

Some 70 people turned out to honor the NHP personnel, including some who were at the IHOP on the morning of the tragedy.