Medal of Valor 2009 Class, awarded on Nov. 17, 2010
Timmy Shoop, Troop B, Missouri State Highway Patrol
On May 23, 2009, Cpl. Shoop received word of a one-vehicle accident in Chariton County in which the vehicle left U.S. Hwy. 24 and traveled into the Middle Fork branch of the Chariton River. The number of occupants was unknown. The SUV had floated about 200 feet downstream and only the roof was visible when Cpl. Shoop arrived on scene. Cpl. Shoop entered the river, fighting the strong current due to recent rain, and reached the vehicle. Because the vehicle was submerged and the water was so muddy, Cpl. Shoop had to swim underwater and then, without regard for his own safety, enter the vehicle to find out if anyone was inside. He managed to find a man in the front passenger seat and pulled him out of the vehicle. As medical personnel tended to the victim, Cpl. Shoop again risked his life by reentering the vehicle to make sure there were no other victims. Emergency medical personnel were able to regain a pulse for the victim. He was transported to a hospital but ultimately did not survive.
Isabella Lovadina, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
On Oct. 5, 2009, Officer Lovadina, who was off duty, had just left the St. Louis residence of an acquaintance with a friend when they were approached by two armed men and forced back into the residence. The gunmen’s intent was a home invasion-robbery. They threatened and terrorized the victims, including several young children, for more than 20 minutes. Several times the gunmen pointed their weapons to the victims’ heads and stated they would kill them. After robbing the victims, the gunmen directed them at gunpoint toward the basement doorway. Officer Lovadina believed that the victims were in imminent danger of being killed. Despite the fact that she was unarmed, she attempted to disarm one of the gunmen to protect the other victims. As she struggled valiantly with the gunman, she was shot several times and critically wounded by the second gunman, who also fired at two other victims, killing one of them. The gunmen fled the residence, but were later captured.
Chris Harris, Troop F, Missouri State Highway Patrol
On May 5, 2009, Sgt. Harris joined the pursuit of a heavily armed motorcyclist who had made threats against public officials at the Osage County Courthouse and was firing shots at Osage County Sheriff's deputies. Sgt. Harris was closing on the pursuit when he heard that a deputy's car had been hit. He then spotted a deputy's patrol car stopped in the middle of westbound U.S. Hwy. 50 and had to take evasive action to avoid a crash, temporarily driving off the roadway. Back on Hwy. 50, Sgt. Harris neared the motorcycle and, seeing that the subject had a gun, took over as primary pursuit vehicle on the right. With the armed motorcyclist traveling more than 70 miles an hour and approaching Jefferson City, Sgt. Harris knew he had to move to end the pursuit to protect motorists and other officers. Sgt. Harris struck the rear of the motorcycle with the front of the patrol car. The driver fell off the motorcycle and then took his own life with a handgun. An investigation revealed the subject had two handguns, a rifle, shotgun and more than 700 rounds of ammunition.
Larry Ellard, Warrenton Police Department
On May 12, 2009, Sgt. Ellard responded to a report of a suicidal man sitting on the edge of the Highway 47 overpass at Interstate 70. The man was precariously balanced on the six-inch wide guardrail, leaning forward to keep from falling 30 feet to the busy interstate below. As the man sobbed uncontrollably, Sgt. Ellard attempted to engage him in conversation and used the loud traffic noise as an excuse to move closer. Sgt. Ellard leaned in closer to listen each time he asked a question. When the man said he was tired of living, suddenly stopped speaking and clenched his fists, Sgt. Ellard seized the opening, grabbed the man's arm and managed to wrestle him from the edge of the overpass. Sgt. Ellard acted despite the danger of possibly falling to the interstate below with the desperate and distraught subject. The man was taken to a hospital and admitted for psychiatric treatment.
Cody Dunfee, Troop A, Missouri State Highway Patrol
On June 30, 2009, Trooper Dunfee accompanied Bates County Sheriff's deputies as they executed a search warrant at a rural house, looking for a man wanted on two outstanding attempted murder warrants. As part of the initial entry team, Trooper Dunfee utilized his SWAT training to begin clearing rooms in an attempt to locate the suspect. The suspect suddenly opened fire with a rifle, striking the trooper in the lower abdomen, but the bullet was stopped by the trooper's ballistic vest. Trooper Dunfee returned fire, hitting the suspect and forcing him to retreat to another room. Remaining calm under extraordinary circumstances, Trooper Dunfee was instrumental in guiding the safe withdrawal of the officers. The gunman was later determined to have taken his own life. Trooper Dunfee's presence and actions under fire prevented injury or loss of life to other officers.
George Ball, Dent County Sheriff's Office and Steve Lawhead, Fort Leonard Wood Police Department
On Jan. 31, 2009, Sgt. Ball and Lt. Lawhead both responded when a woman and her dog fell through the ice and into a lake in Dent County. Neither officer was scheduled to patrol that day and both were in civilian clothing, but when they heard the emergency call they immediately responded.