DENVER -- A family who was hit by officers' stray bullets during a shootout last November say the officers who opened fire inside the restaurant did so recklessly and shouldn't be commended for their actions.

Bruno and Diana Conca and their adult son were dining at a Vietnamese restaurant on South Federal when an armed masked robber stormed into the building.

Two undercover officers, who happened to be eating lunch inside the Ha Noi restaurant as well, fired at the suspect and stray bullets hit the family of three.

"I didn't have time to react," said Diana.

"I think once they chose to open fire, just open fire without warning, they put us all at risk," she said.

The Concas are breaking their silence now only after learning that last month the officers received commendations for their actions on Nov. 14.

"If they had killed me, or all of us or two of us, whatever, would they still have gotten medals of honor? It just didn't sit right with me," said Diana.

Shortly after the shooting, police defended the officers' actions.

"These officers did what they needed to do," said a DPD division chief last November.

The Concas feel the officers could have used more restraint.

"I'm not against the police. But, you know, I personally feel it was somewhat reckless," said Diana.

A 10-page decision letter released by the Denver District Attorney's Office exonerates the two officers of any criminal charges, saying the use of force was justified. The report quotes Bruno Conca as saying, "Those two guys saved everyone's life."

However, Bruno said he didn't know at the time of that statement that it was one of the officer's bullets that hit him in the leg.

"We didn't know they shot 12 times," Bruno said.

The Concas also take issue with the police consistently telling the media there were only minor injuries.

"I was shot in the left side in the stomach. And the bullet hit my duodena, my intestines, nicked my liver," said Diana. She was listed in critical condition, spent the next three days in the intensive care unit at Denver Health, and spent the next month in and out of the hospital.

"I spent most of December trying to recuperate. Trying to walk and eat again," Diana said.

"It was hard. She cried for 24 hours," Bruno said.

The Concas feel misled by police.

"We did absolutely nothing wrong," said Bruno.

"Even the robber was given a lawyer. But we had no immediate counsel. We were just winging it. We had never been in this kind of situation before," said Diana.

The Concas also feel manipulated.

"They made my husband and son believe that they had to make a statement as soon as possible. And so they made those statements while they were in shock," Diana said.

"Do you feel like Denver police ever properly followed up with your family?" asked 7NEWS reporter Russell Haythorn.

"No. The police chief never called to say, 'We're so sorry this had to happen this way,'" said Diana. "Even a letter of concern would have made a difference. Made a little difference."

The Concas have not sued, and haven't really considered it. They simply feel forgotten, while the officers who shot them receive accolades.

"If they're heroes, and they saved our lives, then we should have been at their ceremony. They got those awards for valor, for risking their lives to save others. So, I want to be there to thank them ... for not killing me," said Diana.

When Denver police were contacted for the story, a spokesman said they had no comment.

A spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney's office said the letter exonerating the officers is an accurate representation of the facts of the case.

The suspect in the case, Phuong Dang, was shot five times but survived. He is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 8.

He's facing 36 counts including first-degree assault, attempted aggravated robbery and possession of a weapon by a parolee.