COLUMBIA, Mo. -- A Southeast Missouri trooper was among 17 recently honored at the Missouri State Highway Patrol's annual awards banquet in Columbia.
Trooper Ryan Windham, a two-year veteran of the patrol and a Dexter native, received the meritorious service award for "exemplary performance beyond the call of duty under unusual circumstances and conditions."
"I really didn't expect it," said Windham. "I come from a law enforcement background, so you don't do this job for awards.
"It definitely was a surprise to get an award and be recognized."
Windham, who was nominated by his zone sergeant, was recognized for his actions on March 6, 2017.
Patrol officials say Windham was on routine patrol southbound on Interstate 57 near its intersection with Interstate 55 when he saw a silver Pontiac Grand Prix without a front license plate.
"It was midday, about 12:30 in the afternoon, basically after lunch," Windham recalled. "I had a vehicle with several violations and went to initiate a traffic stop."
After Windham activated his emergency equipment to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to yield and a pursuit ensued.
The vehicle reportedly exited the highway and made a couple of turns before sliding off the road and coming to a stop.
Windham, according to patrol officials, stopped and exited his patrol vehicle.
"A right, rear passenger exited the vehicle and began firing at Trooper Windham," patrol officials say. "Utilizing his training, Trooper Windham moved toward the rear of his vehicle and returned fire."
Neither the passenger nor Windham were struck in the exchange.
A manhunt ensued during which the two passengers and driver were located and taken into custody, patrol officials say.
All three reportedly were convicted felons and members of what patrol officials described as a violent Southeast Missouri gang with outstanding warrants for their arrests.
"Sikeston DPS is great to work with. Within minutes, they were on the scene, then Scott County and New Madrid County" deputies, Windham said. "Everybody swarmed the area."
At the time of the incident, Windham described himself as being a new trooper, having only been with the patrol less than a year.
"It was nice to see all the departments working together to get the bad guys in jail," said Windham, who is assigned to Scott, Mississippi and New Madrid counties.
Having the assistance from the other departments was "very reassuring," Windham said. "It's good to know all the departments work together."
When a situation, such as a traffic stop turning into a pursuit, occurs, "you're kind of a little more heightened (in awareness), expecting a foot pursuit or something to happen," Windham said.
In this situation, he said, one of the car's occupants bailed on foot, while the driver drove away and then bailed.
The other occupant, he said, bailed and began firing.
Windham said his training "absolutely" kicked in that day.
Windham described the academy instructors, including Sgt. Brandon White, as being great.
"They spend six months training us on different scenarios," he said.
In the academy, "we're taught to expect the worst of each situation," Windham said. "Anything can happen at anytime and you better make sure you're prepared because the most important thing is to go home at the end of the day to your family."
Windham's award was presented during The MASTERS (Missouri Association of State Troopers Emergency Relief Society) annual banquet.
"The banquet was great," said Windham, who described The MASTERS as a great organization because of what they do for troopers killed in the line of duty.
"Being from a law enforcement family, it's great to know if something happens to us, our wives, kids (and) family will be taken care of," said Windham. "Any time we can point them out is great."