The first ever Grand Strand Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award was awarded Tuesday night to Horry County Police Officer Erik Karney.

Officer Karney was presented with the award for demonstrating an act of exceptional bravery in the line of duty.

Karney was injured when he attempted to apprehend a Socastee student who shot at him while in the school.

The officer's family was also honored Tuesday night.

Karney says "my family really has gone through a lot with this and to show them how much the community and officers support me it really helps them out and that in turn me feel a lot better about everything."

Karney and his family were awarded by the Coastal Carolina Shields, a group of retired law enforcement officers representing more than 100 different local, state and federal agencies in the U.S. and Canada.