Troopers honored for flood response, other heroic efforts

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Nineteen West Virginia State Police troopers were honored Thursday for heroic efforts performed during the past two years.

The ceremony, which took place at State Police Headquarters in South Charleston, was attended by Gov. Jim Justice.

State Police spokesman Captain Reggie Patterson said the troopers honored represent many others who put their lives on the line daily.

“This is just a small snippet of things that troopers and other law enforcement officers do on a day-to-day basis,” Patterson said.

MORE Read award letters here

Senior Trooper Samuel Shahan received the Life Saving Award for his efforts in Randolph County in October 2016. He found A man slumped over in the backseat of a vehicle just off U.S. Route 33. His letter of commendation from State Police Superintendent Col. Jan Cahill said:

“Senior Trooper Shahan began administering CPR and, prior to the arrival of Randolph County EMS, was able to regain a pulse and shallow breathing of the male subject. Randolph County EMS then took over case of the male and transported him to Davis Medical Center. Senior Trooper Shahan’s documented actions during this incident exemplify the high standards and professionalism characteristic of a West Virginia State Trooper and he is therefore deserving of this Lifesaving Award.”

Two troopers, Captain Eric Widmeyer and Captain William Pendleton received Distinguished Service Medals. Widmeyer for bringing to a peaceful conclusion a suicide by cop attempt in Jefferson County in 2016 and Pendleton for leading search and recovery efforts for victims of the June 2016 flood from June 24 through August 9, 2016.

Several Meritorious Service Medals were given to troopers for their actions in connection with the flood.

Trooper First Class Christopher Wade was one of those. His letter of commendation from Cahill said:

“Trooper First Class Christopher Wade is one of those individuals who entered the floodwaters without any specialized gear or training to locate trapped individuals, clear flooded homes and lead rescue efforts of stranded individuals. These actions were undoubtedly directly responsible for reducing the overall number of fatalities as without his swift and decisive action, lives would have surely been lost.”

Twenty-three people lost their lives in the high water. Most of the victims were in Greenbrier County where Cahill was the sheriff at the time. Gov. Justice witnessed the devastation and that’s one reason he wanted to attend Thursday’s ceremony, Patterson said.

“I think that hit close to home–being from Greenbrier County,” Patterson said.





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