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Officer Donald Moore honored by American Legion for actions in AT&T shooting

By EMMA WRIGHT

Story Created: Apr 4, 2011 at 5:02 PM EDT

Story Updated: Apr 4, 2011 at 5:28 PM EDT

ROME, N.Y. (WKTV) - Rome Police Officer Donald Moore was honored by American Legion Post #24 in Rome on Monday, honoring the officer's actions in May 2010 during a shooting at a cell phone store.

Officer Moore sprang into action when angry customer Abraham Dickan pulled a gun in the AT&T store on Commercial Drive in May 2010, but Monday's award was one of many Office Moore has received since that day.

"Its crazy," he said. "I don't really want to talk about that day."

It's a story about being in the right place at the right time. Some might call it fate.

"I believe in fate," Moore said. "Totally."

Officer Moore had been off-duty that day of May 27, 2010.

"I think it's all part of a master plan," Moore said.

Out running errands, he was headed to Home Depot, when he made a last minute decision to visit the AT&T store on Commercial Drive in New York Mills, as he needed to fix his cell phone.

"He just happened to be in the right spot at the right time and was able to neutralize the situation," said Dave Riley of Henry P. Smith Post #24.

Moore walked into the store and into the line of fire. An unstable customer, 79 year old Abraham Dickan, shot a store clerk and was about to open fire again, when Officer Moore sprang into action and shot Dickan dead.

"You always gotta' watch your surroundings," Moore said. "Be prepared at any moment."

A young officer, Moore had only been on the Rome force for three years. However, he says the moment the incident began to unfold, his training immediately kicked in.

But his mom says...

"She cries," he said. "Tells me she's proud of me...that it was fate...that day."

Over the past year, many have called Moore a hero - a title he humbly denies, but he says an award from the Rome American Legion is extra special.

"It's nice that veterans are honoring me today," he said. "It's an amazing feeling."

"You have to be proud," said Rome Mayor James Brown. "To have an individual...that was in a situation like that....I think fate put him there."

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