Five regional highway patrolmen were awarded at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s annual banquet for their actions in the line of duty.
Superintendent Col. Eric T. Olson congratulated all the troopers and other employees recognized at the April 29 ceremony in Columbia.
“Our award winners are a reflection of the high caliber of individuals the Missouri State Highway Patrol employs,” said Olson. “Every day, our employees go above and beyond to serve and protect Missourians. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients.”
Troopers James P. Lewis of Troop E and Justin L. Dedmon of Troop G were presented the Patrol’s Lifesaving Award, which recognizes active or retired MHSP employees who saved the life of another person.
On July 2, 2022, Lewis attended a family friend’s birthday party at the Neptune Club in Caruthersville. During the swimming party, he noticed a 4-year-old child had apparently jumped into the deep end of the pool. The child was floating facedown. Lewis immediately jumped into the pool and pulled the child to safety. Once out of the pool, he provided several brisk pats on the back to clear the child’s airway of pool water. The child recovered from the incident.
Dedmon responded to an accidental gunshot incident Hartville on January 16, 2022. On the scene, he found a male subject standing by a passenger car with a female holding a towel over his upper arm. There was a large pool of blood on the ground near the man and the towel was blood-soaked. Dedmon quickly grabbed his tourniquet from his boot carrier and stopped the man’s bleeding.
Apparently, the subject had purchased a rifle from a friend while aware the safety was not functioning properly. He accidentally dropped the rifle and it discharged, wounding him. Emergency medical personnel arrived after 15 minutes and transported the man to the hospital. He has since recovered.
Lewis and Dedmon were among eight people to receive the Lifesaving Award.
Three out of four recipients of The Valor Award also hailed from Troop E. This recognition goes to an employee who performs an extraordinary act of heroism in a situation involving considerable danger and the possibility of injury or death to citizens or other officers.
The first awardee, Trooper David A. Beck, was recognized for his actions June 2, 2019. Beck was traveling east on US Highway 60 near Highway 61 in New Mardrid County with his field training officer, Cpl. James C. Cooksey, when they observed a pickup truck on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes. The truck’s hazard lights were activated, so Beck made a U-turn and returned to check on the vehicle.
As he parked, he observed a male subject standing in the shallow ditch next to the open passenger door. Beck approached the truck on foot and as he reached the right rear corner of the truck, the man turned and fired several shots at him using a semi-automatic handgun.
Beck took cover, drawing his firearm, and the subject continued to fire while moving quickly toward him. Beck returned fire and the man fell to the ground.
Beck and Cooksey administered first aid until paramedics arrived. The subject sustained gunshot wounds and survived the incident.
Trooper Joshua J. Schuenemeyer earned his Valor Award for his actions on March 17, 2022, after dense fog caused a a catastrophic 50-vehicle pileup on on Interstate 57 in Charleston.
Schuenemeyer was the first trooper to arrive on scene and recognized the magnitude of this crash scene, which spanned nearly a quarter of a mile and blocked both northbound and southbound lanes. Schuenemeyer requested additional resources and informed troop communications this area of the interstate would need to be closed. He then ran toward a group of eight vehicles engulfed in flames.
The fire was moving to a nearby commercial vehicle. The driver of this truck was trapped and screaming for help as the truck began to burn. Schuenemeyer and a deputy attempted to remove the driver from the truck and found his leg was pinned under the dash.
Schuenemeyer knew the truck would burn before fire personnel could arrive. Without hesitation or regard for his own safety, Schuenemeyer ran to the driver’s side of the vehicle, placing himself between two burning trucks. As he approached the driver’s door, oxygen fed the fire and sent flames shooting over his head. He persevered and was able to free the driver’s leg as the deputy pulled him out from the passenger side. Sadly, the driver later succumbed to his injuries.
Finally, Trooper Adam R. Shipley was awarded for stopping a violent attack and pursuing an armed suspect.
On January 25, 2022, Shipley overheard radio traffic of an aggravated rape in progress at the Amidon Conservation Area in Madison County. He responded to the area and encountered the female victim and a male who was forcing her to his vehicle. The woman ran toward Shipley’s patrol vehicle and identified herself as the victim.
The man ran into a wooded area when Shipley exited his patrol vehicle, but Shipley caught the suspect. While attempting to take him into custody, he observed the reaching for a knife in his waistband. After a physical altercation, Shipley and the man separated and began standing. Again, Shipley observed the man reaching for the knife in his waistband. In response, Shipley drew his firearm and discharged one round, striking the man in the chest.
Despite Shipley’s attempt to administer medical aid, the man died at the scene.
In total, 21 MHSP employees received awards during the banquet.