Metro Police officer to receive highest honor in law enforcement

Benjamin Grove

Friday, Feb. 14, 2003 | 11:23 a.m.

WASHINGTON -- Metro Police officer Keith Borders has been in six shootouts in his nine years of duty.

A showdown in April 2001, for which he is scheduled today to receive the highest honor in law enforcement, was the "hairiest," Borders said.

Borders faced off with Don Mettinger, 49, who police say was intoxicated and armed with two handguns and a shotgun. He was also a skilled gunman, Borders said.

"Of all my shoot-outs, he was the best at it by far," Borders said. "He was very into concealment. He was pretty tactical."

Borders responded to a domestic disturbance call at Mettinger's house in the 5800 block of West Desert Inn Road. Mettinger retreated into the house, where he got his guns.

Borders pulled Mettinger's girlfriend behind his patrol car, and the two men exchanged fire, with Mettinger firing from both inside the house and then outside. Part of a shotgun blast struck Borders in the head, but after several dozen rounds had been fired, the officer had killed Mettinger.

Four pellets remain in Borders' head, he said. It was the third time Borders, 36, a former Oklahoma state policeman, was shot in the line of duty.

"I don't run too fast or jump too high anymore," Borders said.

Today, Borders and nine others were scheduled today to be honored with the new Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor, which in its first year is now highest national award for such an honor. Vice President Cheney and Attorney General John Ashcroft were expected to present the awards at a ceremony today in the nation's capital. The Department of Justice gave the officers first-class airfare and hosted them at the historic Willard Hotel.

"It's a wonderful honor," Borders said. "But I don't do anything to win awards. My job is to make sure the good guys win and the bad guys don't."

Borders' supervisor, Capt. Tom Conlin, said he is "extremely proud" of Borders.

When someone becomes a police officer, they know they may have to take a life at some point and may have to give their life to save someone, Conlin said.

"Without thinking twice, Borders literally shields this woman with his body," Conlin said. "He took several bullets for her, someone he doesn't know."

Borders' wife, Terri, said she has accepted the daily dangers that come with her husband's job.

"The way I describe it to people is that I think of him as one of God's little warriors," Terri Borders said. "Not everyone is made to protect people and throw themselves in front of danger."

Sun reporter

Jen Lawson contributed to this story.