JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday afternoon awarded Missouri Public Safety Medals to 28 first responders for heroic and life-saving actions during 2023.

Hermann police Det. Sgt. Mason Griffith’s widow, Jennifer, and his son, Karson, accepted the Red, White and Blue Heart award presented posthumously in honor of Griffith who was killed in a line of duty shooting in March 2023 by a wanted felon. Also receiving the award was Hermann police patrolman Adam Sullentrup who was critically injured when he was shot in the head.

The awards — the Medal of Valor, the Governor’s Award, and the Red, White and Blue Heart Award — are Missouri’s highest recognitions for first responders acting during critical incidents. Two of the Red, White and Blue Heart awards were bestowed posthumously. The Governor also presented Public Safety Civilian Partnership Awards to three civilians for courageous assistance to first responders during emergency situations in 2023. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe was a special guest at the ceremony.

“This ceremony is yet another important reminder of the tremendously courageous and committed first responders who selflessly protect Missourians year-round,” Parson said during the ceremony at the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s training academy. “Today’s honorees ended violent threats to our communities, prevented drownings and suicides, and rescued victims threatened by fire, electrocution, and medical emergencies. We honor and thank them and their families for their heroic service to our communities and are proud of the exceptional work they do for our state. We can never fully repay the debt we owe our brave men and women in blue, but they have our never-ending gratitude.”

“All Missourians must understand the dedication and selfless sacrifice our first responders make each day to protect our state and communities,” ehoe said. “Today we honored two officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are remembered and their sacrifice is not forgotten. We also recognized and honored three civilians, one just 11-years-old, whose actions remind us of the bravery required to face danger head-on. It is a rare and noble commitment to step up when others might hesitate, and these individuals embody the spirit of true heroism.”

“Being a first responder requires dedication, bravery and selflessness,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “The responders we honored today represent the highest ideal of a first responder — individuals who thought clearly and acted decisively during life-threatening emergencies. The civilians honored today also acted courageously when confronted with situations that required immediate action to save lives.”

The Red, White and Blue Heart Award presented to Griffith’s survivors and Sullentrup is given annually to any first responder who under honorable circumstances is critically, seriously, or fatally injured while performing official duties in the line of duty. The injury must require long-term treatment by a medical professional and considerable loss of time from duty.

Around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2023, Griffith and Sullentrup encountered a wanted felon one lawman described as “evil.”  Griffith and Sullentrup response to a disturbance call at the Casey’s convenience store on Highway 19 in Hermann would cost Griffith his life and Sullentrup his career in law enforcement.

When the officers arrived, both were shot by a gunman, who was wanted for multiple outstanding felony arrest warrants. The officers returned fire, but the gunman fled. He was captured the following day after barricading himself in a house. Griffith was shot in the chest and died from his injuries that night at Hermann Area District Hospital. Griffith, 34, also served as the Chief of the Rosebud Police Department and was known for being accessible to residents at all hours and had a history of deescalating many situations in which individuals were experiencing behavioral health crises.

Sullentrup was shot in the head and suffered a traumatic head injury. Because of the extent of his injury, he spent several months in a rehabilitation hospital before returning home in November 2023. Sullentrup undergoes continuing physical therapy and will remain on disability for the remainder of his life because of the extent of his injuries.

Chris Coleman, a Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy, was the recipient of Missouri’s Medal of Valor — the highest award recognizing public safety officers who exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.

On May 21, 2023, Coleman responded to a motor vehicle crash on Highway T near the intersection with Fiddle Creek Road, a release about the event began. There were downed power lines, so Coleman closed Highway T. While directing traffic be saw that an Ameren Missouri truck had arrived; shortly after, he noticed smoke coming from the truck.

He grabbed a fire extinguisher from his patrol vehicle and as he headed to the Ameren truck, he saw that the lineman was in contact with the truck, which was in contact with a live wire. Coleman extinguished the flames and, risking his safety to protect the lineman, grabbed the man by his pants leg and pulled him away from the electrified truck.

The lineman was suffering from life-threatening injuries. Coleman called for medical assistance, warning that the truck posed a grave danger. EMS arrived and rendered aid to the worker. Coleman observed the truck was again igniting and extinguished the flames as the medical team cared for the lineman just a few feet away from the truck. The victim was transported by helicopter to a hospital and survived his injuries. Coleman had alertly responded to a dynamic scene and his quick thinking helped save the lineman’s life.

Comments from Sheriff Steve Pelton about the award for Coleman are found on page 5.

Nominations are now open for heroic acts performed during 2024 and must be received by Feb 28, 2025. Forms are available on the Missouri Department of Public Safety website at https://dps.mo.gov/medal/.