How did the interviewer describe Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Fulford-Salvano?

Ann Curry: Now, let’s turn to a story of selfless service and heroism. Early one morning, Deputy Sheriff Jennifer Fulford-Salvano was called to a home invasion in progress in Orlando. The 911 call was made by an eight-year-old boy whose mom and twin 2-year-old sisters were at home. When Deputy Fulford-Salvano and another deputy arrived at the house, they were ambushed and engaged in a shoot-out with the robbers. Deputy Fulford-Salvano was shot 7 times but managed to get the children and their mother out safely. Now for her valor she has been named "Police Officer of the Year" by Parade magazine and the International Association of the Chiefs of Police. Ann Curry: Jennifer, officer, good morning and congratulations to you!
Jennifer: Good morning!
Ann Curry: Let’s go back to that day in terms of what had happened. What made you go in when the other officers did not?
Jennifer: You know, I was in a situation in which I had heard from the mother, she was sent out to tell me that everything was Ok. There were other officers there, but I decided to go into this home, to go into the garage. Uh, I just kept thinking about the kids, I just did not know what was going on inside the home, I couldn’t just leave them sitting there.
Ann Curry: So you went inside, but soon after you went into the situation, the shooting started.
Jennifer: Right, I thought, "maybe I can help these kids come out of this alive", but right after I went in and checked, the doors on the car were locked, so I started to come back, outside the garage door and that’s when the shooting started.
Ann Curry: Shooting started, you were hit by the end of the shooting something like 7 times including in your shooting arm.
Jennifer: Correct. And I continued; I did not fall back.
Ann Curry: And you know, you were obviously hit 7 times. Why did you keep going?
Jennifer: Well, I mean, survival, I didn’t want to die in that garage, and, I’ve recently received training for shooting, you know, if your strong hand is hit, what to do? And I think that really helped me that day.
Ann Curry: You actually put the gun in the other hand?
Jennifer: Right. I was able to shoot with my other hand, my not strong hand. I dropped the gun and then picked it up in my left hand, and kept going.
Ann Curry: At this point, the children are in the car, in the garage, and the mother is where?
Jennifer: She is, I don’t know, out by the street somewhere.
Ann Curry: And so what exactly happened?
Jennifer: There were two of them shooting at me at the same time basically, so I was alternating between shooting the one at the back of the van and the one at the front of the van; the one at the back died on the scene, and the second one managed to stumble out into the driveway, collapsed there and died in the hospital.
Ann Curry: Uhm, and the children? and the mother?
Jennifer: The children amazingly were completely fine, the van was full of holes, but the passenger compartment was fine.
Ann Curry: And the mother?
Jennifer: The mother was fine.
Ann Curry: So, when you think this all that happened last year, would you do it all over again or there is something you would’ve done differently.
Jennifer: Well, a lot of people have asked me that, you know, when you think back on all of this, you know, knowing you took a big risk going into that garage, and knowing that you suffer because of your injuries, would you do it all over again? I joked and said I probably would call in sick that day if I knew. But, um, I think the way everything turned out, I was just happy to see the kids were safe, and I probably would go there again if it was the same situation, because it could have turned into a hostage situation or they could’ve been killed.
Ann Curry: And what does it mean to you that they survived? These three little kids.
Jennifer: Well, that’s my job, that’s what I’m there for.
Ann Curry: But does it give your life greater value to yourself, knowing that you have done that?
Jennifer: Oh, yes, to a certain extent. I mean, I always try to help the people that I serve in my community, so it just enforces that for me.
Ann Curry: You have a lucky community then, and, well, you were awarded the Medal of Valor at the White House. And now Parade magazine and the Association of the Chiefs of Police is naming you, "Officer of the Year" Means something to you?
Jennifer: Oh, yes, it’s been huge. I’ve never imagined anything like this would come out of a simple, you know, one minute of my life.
Ann Curry: Well, my pleasure and my honor, and thank you so much for your goodness and obvious dedication to service.
Jennifer: Thank you.