Created: 5/28/2009 4:11:32 PM 
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The Jacksonville Sherriff's Office handed out a purple heart on Thursday. The officer who got the metal survived a gun shot in 2008. To his colleagues, Officer Clifford Sames is seen as a hero. While patrolling West 26th Street last September, Officer Sames wound up in a fight for his life. "We saw a suspicious person committing a pedestrian violation when we decided to stop him," said Officer Sames. "We ordered him to stop, but he ran; I ran after him. When I caught up to him, he pulled out a pistol and shot me in the neck." Even after Officer Sames was shot, he was able to take down the shooter, protecting himself, his partner and everyone else around them from further danger. "What goes through my mind is winning the fight, making sure I made it home safely," said Officer Sames. He says it is that mentality that changed his life. "I'm proud of Cliff, I am glad he made a full recovery and I trust him with my life to this day," said Officer David Ostertag. Officer Ostertag was with Officer Sames the night he was shot. It was their first day together as partners. "This incident has brought me and Cliff closer. I consider him outside of my JSO family; I consider him a close personal friend," said Officer Ostertag. He's a close friend who has a purple heart and a calling to serve and protect the community.
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