Greensboro Reporter

North Carolina's lieutenant governor honored a state trooper who was recently recognized for actions he took during a January 2019 traffic stop where he received life-threatening injuries. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, who is also the Republican Party's gubernatorial candidate against Democratic incumbent Gov. Roy Cooper, thanked and congratulated State Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Harrell for his service and receiving the "Trooper of the Year" award from the American Association of State Troopers. 

Harrell was shot twice in the face on Jan. 14, 2019 when he was conducting a traffic stop, ABC 11 reported at the time. Harrell recovered from his injuries. 

"We would like to recognize Trooper Daniel Harrell with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol," Forest said in a Facebook post on June 27. The association "recognized the bravery and heroic efforts Trooper Harrell demonstrated while conducting a traffic stop on Jan. 14, 2019. Thank you, Trooper Harrell, for your dedication to service and bravery in the line of duty. You make North Carolina proud." 

In selecting Harrell, the American Association of State Troopers said on June 17 that he was deserving of the award for continuing to search for the suspect after being shot in the face. 

"It is because of Trooper Harrell’s perseverance and communication that the involved persons were located and arrested the night of the incident and no further persons were injured," the association said in the news release.