After graduating high school, Michael Collazo enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve and served six years as an infantry rifleman (2010-2016). Serving in the Reserve afforded him the opportunity to join the Nashville Tennessee Metropolitan Police Department (NMPD) in 2014, training as a SWAT paramedic. For his time in the Marine Corps Reserve, he earned the Selected Marine Corps Reserve Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
As a detective in the NMPD, Collazo was one of the officers who responded to the 2020 Nashville Christmas bombing, receiving a commendation from the Nashville Police Department in 2021. But it would be his “heroic bravery and selfless actions” on scene at the Covenant School shooting in 2023 that brought his face and name into the public’s eye.
Collazo drew on his military experience in the midst of the chaos. The total response time from when the dispatch call was placed to the end of the shooting was approximately 14 minutes, with only four minutes passing from the time officers arrived on the scene. Collazo’s quick thinking helped end the tragedy.
Collazo’s first address following the Covenant shooting was to deflect attention, instead directing it to the families affected, and to remind people of the victims in the tragedy.
For his actions at Covenant, he was awarded the National Association of School Resource Officers’ National Award of Valor, the Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal for Bravery from the Uvalde Foundation for Kids.
We honor his service.
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Writer: Amanda Watkins
Editors: Delaney Tracy, Michelle A. Shade
Researchers: Raphael Romea, Christopher Rosenquist
Graphic Designer: Kiki Kelley
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as a fellow hispanic vet i salute you!