Four Troop G members were recognized for their extraordinary actions and dedication to service at an awards ceremony that took place Saturday in Columbia, announced Missouri State Highway Patrol officials announced. Superintendent Col. Michael A. Turner congratulated all award recipients.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins was the keynote speaker. “It’s an honor to stand before this distinguished crowd, especially in this room, filled with so many who understand the true meaning of service, sacrifice, and strength," he said. "In every corner of Missouri, I’ve seen the same spirit — integrity, honor and a fierce commitment to community. These are not just words on a department model, they are lived values, and they are passed down from veteran officers to rookies, from one generation to the next. That’s the power of legacy.”
On Oct. 29, Tpr. Lucas J. Combs and Sgt. Christopher A. Kimes were dispatched to the home of a man making suicidal threats. On arrival they were met by the man’s wife, who told them her husband had been released from the hospital the day prior after a suicide attempt.
She elaborated that he was still suicidal, had locked himself in a garage with a motor running, was armed with several weapons and had threatened to shoot any officers who attempted to enter the home. Combs and Kimes approached the garage, where they encountered a strong odor coming from under the garage door. They realized they had to act immediately because the man was actively attempting suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning and Combs was able to lift one of the garage doors to gain entry to the room, where they found a semiconscious man, armed with multiple knives and three loaded firearms.
A lawn mower was running inside the garage, and there were empty pill bottles strewn across the floor, along with an open bottle of whiskey and a case of beer. Combs and Kimes moved the man outside where he could breathe fresh air while waiting for an ambulance to transport him for medical treatment.
On Nov. 5, Cpl. Jonathan M. Heimsoth and Sgt. Brian D. Foster received a call in Texas County regarding two people and five dogs trapped inside a cabin.
Flood water had entered the first floor of the cabin and the water was already about 4 feet deep. Due to flash flooding, they were unable to get close to the cabin to launch their rescue boat, and drove about three quarters of a mile from the cabin, where they were able to deploy their inflatable rescue boat into knee-deep water.
In an effort to reach the home, the two were met with swift currents and 5- and 6-foot surges. Upon arrival at the cabin, the men were able to ferry the stranded man, woman and their five dogs to safety.
