When bullets rang out at the Washington Hilton on March 30, 1981, Secret Service Agent Tim McCarthy made the split-second decision that defines the ultimate sacrifice in law enforcement – turning his body into a shield for President Reagan during an assassination attempt.

In this powerful Heroes Behind the Badge interview, McCarthy recounts his 50-year law enforcement career, including the moment he took a bullet to protect President Reagan from would-be assassin John Hinckley Jr. Despite suffering a serious chest wound, McCarthy returned to presidential protection duties just three months later, demonstrating the remarkable resilience that defines America's finest.

"I did what I did based upon training, not anything else," McCarthy humbly explains. His story exemplifies the courage and commitment of law enforcement professionals nationwide who stand ready to make the ultimate sacrifice.

• 2:15 - The coin flip that put McCarthy on duty during the assassination attempt
• 9:42 - McCarthy's detailed account of the shooting and his protective response
• 14:25 - President Reagan's hospital room meeting with McCarthy: "What did this guy have against the Irish?"
• 21:58 - How security protocols changed after the assassination attempt
• 27:36 - McCarthy's expert analysis of recent Trump assassination attempts

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