NEWS RELEASE

For further information please contact: Capt. J. Tim Hull
(573) 526-6115
Q4093
April 20, 2009
EMPHASIS: Patrol Recognizes 13 Employees

Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol, is proud to announce 13 employees were honored at the Patrol’s 19th annual awards and The MASTERS banquet on April 18, 2009. Held at the Holiday Inn Select Executive Center in Columbia, MO, family, friends, and The MASTERS members gathered to honor the heroes of 2008. Major J. Brett Johnson, Q/SSB, served as emcee; Assistant Attorney General Kevin M. Zoellner, Missouri Attorney General’s Office, was the keynote speaker; Troop A’s Honor Guard presented the colors while CTE Roger Heard, Troop H, played the bagpipes; Cpl. Andrew A. “Andy” Henry, Troop H, sang the National Anthem; Patrol Chaplain Phil Dooley, from Columbia, MO, gave the invocation and benediction; and Colonel Keathley presented the awards. Mr. Doug Libla, president of The MASTERS, presented The MASTERS Public Service Award. Listed are the descriptions and awards:

2008 The MASTERS Public Service Award
Trooper Clinton M. Duppong, Troop B

Trooper Clinton M. Duppong, Troop B, is a nine-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. Currently, he serves as a commercial vehicle enforcement trooper assigned to Troop B. Trooper Duppong has been active in his community of Memphis, Missouri, since moving there in 1998. His programs for kindergartners explain the importance of bicycle safety, how to deal with strangers, and the role police officers could play in their lives. He also speaks with high school students about the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Trooper Duppong has attended many career fairs at Scotland County R-1 High School where he speaks to students about policing as a potential career. He has spoken to the local Girl Scouts and Gorin 4-H Club, also. Along with presenting numerous programs, Trooper Duppong has served on the Scotland County Community Fitness Board since 2002. He currently coordinates basketball and volleyball leagues at the fitness center. Trooper Duppong has been a coach for baseball and football teams, and has refereed numerous grade school football and basketball games.


2008 Lifesaving Awards
Sergeant Dennis L. Kuechler, Troop D
Trooper Samuel D. Carpenter, Troop D

On April 7, 2008, Sergeant Dennis L. Kuechler and Trooper Samuel D. “Sam” Carpenter overheard radio traffic alerting them to a medical emergency at the 22-mile marker of Interstate 44 in Jasper County. When the officers arrived, two people were performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on a female. As a medic for Troop D SWAT and a paramedic prior to his appointment to the Patrol, Trooper Carpenter had been assigned an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). Trooper Carpenter utilized the AED, and Sergeant Kuechler performed rescue breathing to establish a heart rhythm. Several minutes later, ambulance personnel arrived and took the victim to a hospital in Joplin, Missouri. Doctors credited the actions of Sergeant Kuechler and Trooper Carpenter with saving her life.


Trooper Douglas W. Riley, Troop D

On June 11, 2008, off-duty Trooper Douglas W. Riley and his brother were backing out of his driveway when Trooper Riley noticed an overturned tractor. Trooper Riley’s uncle had been on his tractor operating a brush hog when it overturned. His uncle remained pinned underneath. Trooper Riley and his brother ran to the overturned tractor and Trooper Riley turned off the tractor and brush hog. The Riley brothers then lifted the 2,500-pound tractor enough for his uncle to get out from under it. Paramedics arrived soon after and took his uncle to the hospital where he was treated and released.

Trooper Phillip G. Sarakas, Troop C

On November 29, 2008, Trooper Phillip G. Sarakas was off duty and attending a family birthday party at the Old Times Cafe in Fredericktown, Missouri. He observed an elderly female stand up from a table where she had been seated. Although she did not display the universal sign for choking, she was obviously in distress and unable to speak. Trooper Sarakas immediately approached the elderly female and verified she needed assistance. He then instructed his wife to call 9-1-1 and proceeded to apply an abdominal thrust three times. The elderly woman was then able to gasp for air. An ambulance arrived and transported her to a local hospital. She has since recovered.


Trooper Robert W. “Bill” Schafer, Troop D

On July 3, 2008, Trooper Robert W. “Bill” Schafer, was on routine patrol in Webster County when a passing motorist contacted him and requested an ambulance. The motorist suspected his sister-in-law was suffering from a stroke. Trooper Schafer assessed the victim’s condition and determined there were no signs of life. He then began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The Logan-Rogersville Fire Department arrived and utilized an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) to restore the victim’s heartbeat. When the ambulance arrived, she was transported to Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri, where she was placed in the intensive care unit. She recovered from the incident.


Trooper Corey W. Tucker, Troop E

On January 7, 2008, Trooper Corey W. Tucker arrived on the scene of a traffic crash to assist Trooper Andrew B. Ward. The vehicle involved in the crash was on fire and sitting off the west side of the roadway. Trooper Tucker could see Trooper Ward leaning in through the driver’s side window as he attempted to free the driver’s foot, which was trapped beneath the brake pedal. The fire and smoke had surrounded Trooper Ward’s body. Realizing Trooper Ward was in immediate danger, Trooper Tucker grabbed the back of Trooper Ward’s duty belt and pulled him from the burning vehicle. He then discharged his fire extinguisher through the driver’s door window to control the fire, as Trooper Ward proceeded to the passenger side of the vehicle to remove the driver, whose foot he had freed.

2008 Meritorious Service Award
Trooper Michael L. Cary, Troop D

On March 24, 2008, Trooper Michael L. Cary responded to a call regarding shots fired at a residence in Webster County. While en route to the residence, further information revealed earlier that day the suspect threatened to kill a local wrecker driver over a disputed towing bill. Two Webster County deputies attempted to make contact with the subject at the front door while Trooper Cary took a position at the back of the residence. Trooper Cary then looked through a window at the rear of the residence. He saw the suspect working the slide of a handgun, and immediately warned the other officers. The suspect fired at Trooper Cary, who returned fire, striking the man in the chest. Trooper Cary first called for an ambulance and then initiated first aid by applying gauze and pressure to the wound. The Webster County coroner pronounced the suspect dead at the scene.


2008 Civilian of the Year
Automotive Technician III Sean D. Jacobs, Troop A

Automotive Technician III Sean D. Jacobs joined the Patrol on April 1, 1997. In the years since, he has proven to have the strongest of work ethics and a tireless commitment to the Patrol. Automotive Technician III Jacobs is thorough in his repair of the Patrol’s fleet and takes the safety of his co-workers seriously. He makes himself available to road troopers by providing his cell phone number and encouraging them to call when they need assistance. He regularly answers questions, provides insight, or responds to a trooper with a vehicle problem during his off-duty time.

2008 Benjamin Oliver Booth Officer of the Year
Sergeant Blaine L. Adams, Troop E

Sergeant Blaine L. Adams is a 21-year veteran of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. He currently serves as the zone commander of Zone 5, Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, and North Scott counties. Because he supervises six other Patrol members, more than half of his time is spent fulfilling administrative duties. In addition, Sergeant Adams is a Drug Recognition Expert certified instructor and trains others. He is a course administrator who monitors these types of classes to ensure they follow standards established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Despite his busy schedule and the amount of time he spends as a supervisor, Sergeant Adams continues to lead his zone in enforcement contacts. In 2008, he made 479 arrests, of which 35 were arrests for driving while intoxicated. Sergeant Adams also worked 55 traffic crashes, which led to 22 arrests. On November 9, 2008, Sergeant Adams made his 1,000th career driving while intoxicated arrest.

2008 Valor Awards
Trooper Shawn M. Dougherty, Troop G

On March 18, 2008, the Carter County Sheriff’s Department received an emergency call regarding people trapped in a mobile home and vehicle north of Van Buren, Missouri. Approximately ten inches of rain had fallen in a period of several hours resulting in major flash flooding. Trooper Shawn M. Dougherty and officers from other departments responded to the scene. Two subjects were trapped at a vehicle, and three were trapped in a mobile home with floodwaters near. Trooper Dougherty and members of the National Park Service worked together to pull one of the subjects from the vehicle to safety. The rope was thrown to the second subject, who placed it under his arms. The subject informed emergency personnel he could not swim, and then jumped into the current before being instructed to do so. The subject was caught in the swift current and swept down into a tree. He was submerged in the water. Trooper Dougherty jumped into the swift water without hesitation, crossed the fences, and swam to the subject. He attempted to raise the subject out of the water, but could not. Trooper Dougherty then went under water and pushed the subject up out of the water. He was able to keep the subject’s head above water until he and the man were pulled close enough to the bank for rescue personnel to reach them. The rescue team then went to the aide of the three subjects trapped in the mobile home. All three people were brought to safety.

Trooper Andrew B. Ward, Troop E

On January 7, 2008, Trooper Andrew B. Ward responded to an injury traffic crash on Route W in Butler County. When he arrived at the scene, he discovered a white 1996 Oldsmobile Cutlass off the west side of the roadway. The vehicle was on fire and the driver appeared trapped inside. Trooper Ward attempted to remove the driver from the vehicle and discovered her foot was wedged under the brake pedal. Without regard to his own safety, Trooper Ward then dove into the vehicle through the driver’s door window, reached to the floorboard, and began trying to free the driver’s foot. As flames and heavy smoke surrounded his upper body, Trooper Ward was able to free the driver’s foot. Trooper Corey Tucker grabbed Trooper Ward’s duty belt and pulled him from the vehicle. Without hesitation, Trooper Ward then ran to the passenger side and with the help of several citizens removed the driver from the burning vehicle. Trooper Ward sustained minor injuries from the fire and experienced minor breathing difficulty from smoke inhalation. The woman he pulled from the vehicle has recovered from the incident.

Sergeant Dale O. Jinkens, Troop A

On November 22, 2008, Sergeant Dale O. Jinkens made a traffic stop at the top of the exit ramp from Interstate 70 to Little Blue Parkway in Independence, Missouri. During this stop, a serious traffic crash occurred at the bottom of the same exit ramp. Sergeant Jinkens saw the fire resulting from the crash, instructed the driver he had stopped to stay with her vehicle until he returned, and then responded to the scene. As he drove down the ramp, he called for fire and ambulance to assist.

As a result of the crash, both the van and vehicle were engulfed in flames. The driver of the second vehicle was partially ejected from her vehicle, trapped between her car and the concrete highway divider, and on fire. Sergeant Jinkens organized citizens to move the vehicle far enough away from the divider that he could reach the driver. He then removed her from the engulfed cabin compartment, placed her a safe distance away, and extinguished the fire on her body. The occupants of the van escaped before the flames overtook their vehicle. Sergeant Jinkens then organized assistance for the rescued driver to stabilize her. An ambulance arrived and took the driver to the hospital. She recovered from her injuries.