An El Centro Border Patrol agent has been named Officer of the Year.

Jonathan Morales was honored at the recent International Association of Chiefs of Police annual conference in Chicago. U. S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan presented Morales with the prestigious award for his actions during a shooting at a Poway , California Synagogue in April of this year. Morales was off duty and attending services at the synagogue when a gunman burst into the synagogue and opened fire on the congregation wounding several and killing a woman. Morales confronted the attacker and fired at him as he fled. For his courage Agent Morales was chosen as Officer of the Year.