DARRELL ABBOTT - DIMEBAG OFFICER HONOURED

America's National Rifle Association (NRA) has named the policeman who killed 'DIMEBAG' DARRELL ABBOTT's murderer Law Enforcement Officer Of The Year 2005.

JAMES D NIGGEMEYER stopped former Marine NATHAN GALE's 8 December 2004 shooting spree at Columbus, Ohio's Alrosa Villa nightclub with a fatal shot.

Gale killed five people - including the DAMAGEPLAN guitarist - and injured several members of the band's entourage before Niggemeyer's intervention.

NRA first vice president JOHN SIGLER says, "It isn't every day that an officer is faced with a decision like this.

"(Niggemeyer) made the right decision under the most adverse conditions and relied on his training and experience to save the life of innocent civilian victims."