BAILEY, Colo. -- On Monday, dozens of officers who helped Park County Authorities during the Platte Canyon High School shooting 54 days ago were honored at a Jefferson County high school.

The officers were honored for putting their lives on the line Sept. 27 when a gunman terrorized students and staff at Platte Canyon in Bailey. The suspect killed one of the hostages before turning the gun on himself.

A total of 107 people were honored, mostly officers from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and the Golden and Arvada Police Departments.

The shooting happened in a town that never had to deal with anything remotely like it before.

"To sit there and watch the ambulances and police cars go by -- it shouldn't have happened in this community," said one resident.

Within minutes a team of emergency responders arrived at the scene including the SWAT team, negotiators and the bomb squad.

On Monday, Jefferson County Sheriff Ted Mink paid tribute to who he called the brave men and women who confronted a deadly threat that day inside the school.

The parents of Emily Keyes, the lone student killed, watched as SWAT and bomb team members and others were recognized for their efforts.

Four types of awards were given out. Fifteen officers, mostly SWAT team members were awarded a medal for valor for acts involving extreme risk or bravery.