Heroic cop will meet photographer he shielded from Dallas killer after his image is shared thousands of times
Police officer James Dylan Smith, 25, broke his silence to reveal he is planning to meet Robert Moore today
THE hero cop whose image went around the world after he shielded a photographer from gunfire in the Dallas shootings has told The Sun: “I would do it all again.”
Police officer James Dylan Smith, 25, broke his silence to reveal he is planning to meet Robert Moore today after the snapper’s photos were shared by thousands online.
His dramatic pictures captured the concentration on the face of selfless Smith, as he put his body in-between warped killer Micah X Johnson and Mr Moore during the Dallas shoot-out.
The rookie cop – who rushed in to help after hearing reports of gunfire on his police radio – protected the picture man for more than two hours as the deadly siege unfolded.
Smith, who has been at the Dallas Police Department, in Texas, for just three years, told The Sun: “The real heroes were the officers that gave their lives that night and the ones that were injured.
“I’m not a hero – I’m just a dude that did his job.
“I wish I could think of a word that described how I felt but I don’t feel there is anything strong enough. I am sure there is but I cannot think of it right now.
“I hope to God I don’t see anything like it in my life again. But I would definitely do it again if the same situation happened – that is why I became a police officer.”
Ex-publisher Moore had been documenting the peaceful Black Lives Matter protest last Thursday when sniper Johnson opened fire in downtown Dallas from the second floor of a parking lot.
The shocked photographer, who lives in Dallas, watched one officer get hit by a bullet before trying to flee the carnage by hiding behind a parked car.
Former US Army private Johnson opened fire at 8.45pm – slaughtering five cops including Patrick Zamarripa, 32, Brent Thompson, 43, Michael Krol, 40, Michael Smith, 55, and Lorne Ahrens, 48.
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Smith, from Rowlett, Texas, was on a call-out when news came over his radio of the militant shooter – inspired by the deaths of two black men and the hands of police - in the city’s downtown area.
He rushed to the scene and joined two other officers trying to protect Moore by the car which was near the parking garage where Johnson was shooting.
Brave Smith, clutching his weapon, then put himself in the line of fire to shield Moore from any bullets – as the photographer kept on taking pictures.
The cop said: “It came over the radio ‘officer down’ and it was a sickening a feeling as you could think. It was gut-wrenching.
“When I got there, the shooting was still going on. I just put myself in-between him (Moore) and where the suspect was. He was quite frightened but he appeared calm.
“It went on for a while. It has been the most tense period since I have been a police officer. I have never experience anything like that before.”
He ordered Moore to “get small” and keep his head down during the tense stand-off at the parking lot – where crazed Johnson was threatening to kill more cops after being surrounded.
Eventually, after two hours of ducking bullets, Moore was able to rush for freedom.
But he was overwhelmed by Smith’s kindness and later posted on Facebook: “I spent two hours last night crouching behind a car at Lamar and Main, trying to "get small! get small!";
“Much of it with this guy. I don't know his name but I won't forget him.
#prayfordallas.”
The dramatic images of the cop went viral, with locals naming Smith as the officer.
Moore’s Facebook post has now been shared more than 7,000 times and the pair will be reunited today.
Smith said: “I haven’t been able to think of a word that would justify how the feeling was that day. I have worked both nights since. It’s not fully sunk in yet. We’ve still got to do our jobs.
“It was strange going to work the next day. I had a job at one of the stations where one of the officers who lost their lives, Sgt Mike Smith, worked and it was very sombre walking into the station.
“But amount of support that has been shown for us has been really amazing.”