Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award 2024 Class, awarded on Sept. 23, 2025

Terry Mefford and Kenton Parsons, nominated by Shelby County Sheriff’s Office

At about 8 a.m. on July 8, 2024, Terry Mefford observed an SUV driving east on U.S. Highway 36 at about 5 m.p.h. just east of Lentner. Mefford called Shelby County Sheriff Arron Fredrickson, who requested that he follow the vehicle. Mefford turned around, and observed the vehicle pull onto the shoulder and come to a stop beside a deep concrete drainage ditch, but the SUV was highly unstable and teetering on the sloped surface. Mefford and another motorist who had stopped, Kenton Parsons, exited their vehicles and grabbed hold of the vehicle, attempting to use their weight to counterbalance it so it didn’t fall into the ditch. They called to the driver, but she was unconscious. Despite their efforts, the vehicle overturned into the ditch, landing on its roof. Sheriff Fredrickson was now on scene and he and Parsons descended the steep embankment and found the driver’s head completely submerged in water. Mefford retrieved a crowbar, which the sheriff used to break out both passenger side windows. The sheriff and Parsons, working in water up to their knees, extricated the woman and Sheriff Fredrickson began CPR. The victim regained a pulse and began breathing again. She was transported to a hospital and made a full recovery. Mefford and Parsons’ selfless actions, without any concern for their own safety, were critical in saving the life of the 62-year-old driver, who made a full recovery. Mefford is a Shelby County commissioner.

Alan Crook and Luis Carlos Garza, nominated by Hazelwood Police Department

On the evening of Sept. 28, 2024, as Hazelwood Police officers investigated an armed robbery that had just occurred, Officer Brandon Runyon located the suspect in the 7400 block of North Lindbergh Blvd. The suspect punched Runyon in the face and continued to attack the officer. The officer and suspect fell to the ground, where a backpack stolen by the suspect, opened. Cash and a handgun fell near the struggle. About 30 seconds into the struggle, motorists Alan Crook and Luis Garza recognized that Officer Runyon needed immediate assistance and stopped. Mr. Garza placed his body weight on the suspect’s legs. Mr. Crook drew his own pistol and pointed it at the attacker while the officer now struggled to handcuff the suspect. Additional Hazelwood Police officers soon arrived and were able to assist in handcuffing the suspect. With complete disregard for their own safety, Mr. Crook and Mr. Garza each made the decision to intervene in a highly dangerous situation and prevented Officer Runyon from further injury, or perhaps worse.

Tony Carey, nominated by Kansas City Police Department

At about 9:40 a.m. on October 16, 2024, Tony Carey was at work at 72nd Street and Troost Avenue when he heard a loud crash nearby. He went to the front of the business to investigate and found a two-vehicle crash scene and Kansas City Police Officer Jon Powell lying in the roadway near his police motorcycle. Mr. Carey checked on the officer’s condition and found him to be unconscious and critically injured. Mr. Carey was not familiar with police equipment but located the radio on the downed motorcycle and began pressing buttons, which eventually activated the emergency status of the radio. Mr. Carey then made contact with the injured civilian driver of the other vehicle and shut off her SUV. He then went back to Officer Powell and remained with him until first responders arrived. Mr. Carey’s activation of the emergency button of Officer Powell’s radio alerted dispatch that the officer was in trouble. The dispatcher sent units to the area Officer Powell had just cleared. Upon arrival, officers called for EMS and began life-saving efforts. The officer was transported to a hospital where his condition stabilized. He continues to recover from his injuries. Mr. Carey’s willingness to help and his immediate response quickly got critically important medical assistance to Officer Powell and played an important role in preserving Officer Powell’s life and aiding his recovery.

Sean MacDonald, nominated by Missouri Department of Conservation

On the night of Nov. 4, 2024, heavy rainfall led to flooding and swift-water conditions on Supplemental Route N Highway in Wright County. A woman was trapped in her sedan about one mile west of Highway 95. Missouri Department of Conservation Corporal Justin Emery and Missouri State Highway Patrol Corporal Cole Chatman responded to a location about 500 yards downstream from the victim as the fast-moving floodwater rose and conditions worsened. Mountain Grove city employee Sean MacDonald was at the scene with a large, wheeled front-end loader. Despite the challenging conditions, Mr. MacDonald did not hesitate. He had the two officers, who were wearing life vests, climb into the loader’s bucket and then navigated the vehicle through the high swift water to the trapped teenage driver. Emery and Chatman attached a life vest to a rescue throw bag and tossed it to the victim. Once she was secured in the vest, operator MacDonald positioned the bucket alongside the flooded vehicle and slowly lowered the officers to the trapped teen. Emery and Chatman were then able to safely pull the victim from her car into the bucket. MacDonald then carefully maneuvered the loader back upstream to a waiting ambulance, where the victim received medical care. On a pitch-black night with floodwater swirling all around him, Sean MacDonald was willing to risk his own safety and calmly led a daring rescue of a trapped victim.