JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson awarded Missouri’s highest public safety honors to 28 first responders Thursday afternoon for their heroic acts beyond the call of duty that took place in 2023.

Several Kansas City area law enforcement officers received Medals of Valor for saving multiple lives and arresting gunmen on separate occasions. Five officers from the O'Fallon Police Department received a Governor's Medal for saving a child with suicidal tendencies on the edge of an Interstate 70 overpass. 

The awards include 18 Missouri Medals of Valor for exceptional courage and heroism in an attempt to protect or save a human life; seven Governor’s Medals for heroic acts performed by a team of first responders; three Red, White and Blue Heart Awards for first responders who were seriously or fatally injured in the line of duty; and three Public Safety Civilian Partnership Awards for civilians who provided valuable or courageous assistance to first responders or the public.

Below are award recipients and their heroic acts:

• Destiny Brant, nominated by Matthews Volunteer Fire Department for rescuing two children trapped in a vehicle that rolled over into a flooded ditch. 
• Louis Miklovic, nominated by Missouri State Park Rangers for his role in the rescue of two hikers who had fallen 80 feet from a bluff in a state park.    
• Joshua Dunn, nominated by Missouri State Park Rangers for his quick thinking in administering first aid to man who had suffered a deep laceration that resulted in a life-threatening loss of blood. 

• Sgt. Wade McElfresh, Sgt. Tom Thompson, Officer Robert Fincher, Officer Dalton Koch and Officer James Mora, O’Fallon Police Department, for their coordinated efforts to save the life of a suicidal person on the edge of an I-70 overpass. 
• Sgt. Nicole Ellzey and Officer Scharihen Ward, Missouri Department of Corrections, for their efforts to end an attack on a fellow corrections officer by an offender armed with a seven-inch handmade knife.   

• Officer Jacob Peck, Officer Shaun Goodwin and Officer Dakota Harrington, Sikeston Department of Public Safety, for the rescue of a 12-year-old boy from an apartment while under fire from a suicidal gunman.
• Officer Sean Miskovic and Officer Lucas Roethlisberger, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, for the capture of a gunman, following pursuits by vehicle and on foot of a gunman who repeatedly opened fire on the officers, wounding both of them.
• Officer Jeffrey Clouse, Ferguson Police Department, for rescuing a suicidal man who attempted to drown himself in a lake. 
• Channing Cochran and David Ostendorf, Independence Police Department, for the rescue of a victim trapped in a burning vehicle. 
• Corporal Travis Sanders, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, for his extraordinary measures to save the life of a suicidal drowning man. 
• Officer Alfred Allmon, Officer Nicholas Jones and Officer William Stevenson, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, for taking into custody a man in mental health crisis who had fired shots at the officers and injured all of them in a violent struggle. 
• Deputy Sheriff Chris Coleman, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, for saving the life of a powerline worker who was in danger of being electrocuted.    
• Master Sgt. Lance DeClue, Missouri State Highway Patrol, for the capture of a highly dangerous gunman who was firing from a moving vehicle and endangering law enforcement officers and motorists.
• Officer Larry Bunt Jr. and Officer Clint Koons, O’Fallon Police Department, for ending the threat posed by a gunman who fired shots near O’Fallon City Hall, which included a pursuit and a shootout with the gunman. 
• Firefighter/Paramedic Drew Goodale, Cape Girardeau Fire Department, for rescuing a man from a burning house and providing medical care while he was off-duty and outside his department’s jurisdiction.
• Officer Justin McElroy, St. Joseph Police Department, for ending the threat posed by an armed, convicted felon who led officers on a vehicle pursuit with a passenger in his vehicle. 

• James Muhlbauer and K-9 Champ, Kansas City Police Department, were on duty when they were killed by a speeding motorist who ran through a red light and crashed into Officer Muhlbauer’s vehicle. The motorist, who was driving approximately 89 miles an hour, also killed a pedesrian. 
• Detective Sgt. Mason Griffith and Officer Adam Sullentrup, Hermann Police Department responded to a disturbance call at a convenience store. Both officers were shot by the gunman, who was wanted for multiple felony arrest warrants. Detective Sgt. Griffith was mortally wounded. Officer Sullentrup suffered a traumatic head injury.