PHOENIX — The Arizona Gang Investigators Association opened its annual conference this month with a moment of pride and reverence as President Jeff Viles announced a new honor: the Tyler Moldovan Award for Valor.
Created to recognize exceptional heroism in the line of duty, the award bears the name of Phoenix Police Officer Tyler Moldovan, who survived a near-fatal ambush shooting in 2021. During the ceremony, Moldovan received the inaugural award as he stood before attendees under his own power, a testament to his ongoing recovery.
On Dec. 14, 2021, Moldovan and his partner, Officer Zachary Johnson, responded to reports of reckless driving near 19th Avenue and Camelback Road. As they searched a nearby apartment complex, the suspect who was lying in wait, opened fire, striking Moldovan several times. Johnson acted immediately, tackling the gunman and stopping the violence from escalating further.
