9 Investigates: Officers who shot at Omar Mateen still not cleared of wrongdoing

ORLANDO, Fla. — Artwork, tributes and messages from around the world block the view of where a bearcat broke through the wall of Pulse one year ago.

“It's hard to believe it has been one year sometimes. I think about it and it feels like it just happened yesterday, yet sometimes, it feels like 10 years ago,” said Orlando Police Chief John Mina.

Mina was forced to put his own officers in danger to help end the danger to innocent people still trapped in a bathroom with gunman Omar Mateen, who had already killed 49 others.

Once the wall was breached, those hostages came pouring out, along with Mateen, who had a gun in his hand, Mina said.

“(He) came out and shot at our officers, and really, one of our officers came within an inch of losing his life,” said Mina.

%

%

That officer, Michael Napolitano, and the 13 others who fired their weapons, are still waiting for official clearance that the shooting was considered justified.

The process is standard with any officer-involved shooting.

Read: 2016 deadliest year ever for LGBTQ community, new report finds

A full review is being completed by the State Attorney's Office and a year later, key ballistics evidence is still being processed by the FBI.

“In my mind they did the right thing and they will be justified,” said Mina.

But that doesn't make it easier to wait on a report that could bring closure to officers who stared down terror and pulled the trigger.

“Once you get that final letter, the final clearance, although you know you did the right thing to save your life and the lives of others, it's still nice to have that come to a close,” Mina said.

Mina said he has been in touch with the FBI, and so far, there is no indication that there were any incidents of friendly fire, but the final report from the FBI may not be able to say that for sure.

Cox Media Group