LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Four Louisville Metro Police officers shot in the line of duty were honored Tuesday morning at Metro Hall.

Officers Nick Wilt, Brandon Haley, Laxman Acharya and Brendan Koerner all survived being shot while serving the community in recent years. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg said in a news conference Tuesday it's essential for the community to acknowledge the work police officers do to preserve others' safety, often at the expense of their own.

He called each of the officers honored amazing, living Louisville heroes.

"The common thread is that they all came closer to dying than any one of them — their families, their friends or any one of us in our city — would have wanted," Greenberg said. "And what's so inspiring is that, for each one of them, after all of these challenging experiences — all of the work that they've done to heal themselves physically and mentally — they are all so committed to our city."

Wilt's story has spread through Louisville and beyond. Just 10 days after taking his oath as a police officer, he was shot in the head while responding to the mass shooting at Old National Bank in April 2023. 

He was rushed to UofL Hospital and wouldn't return home for months.

"His love for life, his laughter, his ability to find light in any situation has inspired us all," said Zach Wilt, Nick's twin brother. "And our mindset for our family is clear — that we get to heal and live alongside Nick."

Zack Wilt spoke during Tuesday's recognition, sharing an update with the community on his brother's progress, calling it a "miracle." 

"He walked all the way from the parking lot all the way up here (Metro Hall), which was not going to happen this time last year," Zack Wilt said.

Sometimes seen in a wheelchair during his recovery, Nick Wilt only had a cane with him Tuesday as he walked into Metro Hall standing tall and taking the stage.

"We think it's important that the public understand the risks our officers take every single day," Greenberg said.

Haley has undergone several surgeries and procedures since he was shot multiple times on Sept. 7, 2023. The shooting left him in critical condition. It happened near 38th and West Kentucky streets in the Chickasaw neighborhood as Haley was attempting to catch up to a car that didn't have lights on. Haley then noticed two people running from the scene, so he got out of his car and radioed for help. As he ran toward the suspects' car, body camera footage shows Haley stumble to the ground as more than 15 shots ring out.

Just a few months ago, in November 2024, Acharya and Koerner were shot in the Smoketown neighborhood. According to a citation, when officers attempted to detain a suspect, they were shot while trying to gain control of the suspect's hands.

Mayor Greenberg Honors LMPD Officers Shot

Four Louisville Metro Police officers — Officers Nick Wilt, Brandon Haley, Laxman Acharya and Brendan Koerner — were honored by Mayor Craig Greenberg at Metro Hall. Jan. 21, 2025. (WDRB Photo)

"I think this is very important," Acharya said Tuesday. "I think this is important for officers, important for families." 

Acharya is already back on the job after recovering from being shot in the leg. 

"With everything the city has given me, every opportunity, resources that I've got from the city, led me to be who I am today," he said. 

The city thanked the officers for their service and sacrifice and also thanked their families for their support. Greenberg said public safety remains his top priority.

"We can't accomplish any of our other goals as individuals, as families, as a community, without having a safe city," he said. "So our goal is to ensure every resident in our community, in every corner of our city, feels safe and is safe." 

LMPD has released a crime reduction plan for 2025 focused on reducing violent crime and improving community trust. To read that plan, click here.

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