Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Idaho State Police to Present Heroism Awards to Officers and Citizens on Friday

IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE - generated by our News Release ListServer
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IDAHO STATE POLICE NEWS RELEASE
District 4 Patrol 218 West Yakima, Jerome, ID 83338-5904 (208) 324-6000
Fax (208) 324-7897

For Immediate Release: 05/29/13 9:11 am
Please direct questions to the District Office

Colonel Ralph Powell, Idaho State Police Director, will award the Purple Heart and the Life Saving Award to two Idaho State Police troopers during a ceremony at the District 4 office in Jerome on Friday, May 31st at 1:30 p.m. Two Certificates of Appreciation for Heroism will also be presented to two Idaho Department of Transportation employees who assisted in saving a man's life. The public is invited to attend the ceremony.

The Purple Heart is awarded to a sworn officer who is injured in the line of duty. Corporal Steve Hobbs will receive the Purple Heart on Friday for events that occurred nearly 22 years ago. On June 15, 1991, Cpl. Hobbs was patrolling near the Utah border on Interstate 84 when he stopped a speeding car. As he approached the driver's door and began to say "Good Evening," the suspect, 23 year-old Shawn Kerrigan, pulled out a 9mm pistol and fired four rounds. Two rounds impacted Cpl. Hobbs' vest, one round entered between his vest panels on his right side and traveled through his body. Because of his quick reaction to the threat, the fourth round missed Cpl. Hobbs and he was able to retreat to his patrol car. As Kerrigan fled, Cpl. Hobbs gave chase, though seriously wounded. Because of the amount of blood loss he sustained, Cpl. Hobbs fell unconscious and his patrol car veered off the road into the median, struck some rocks and caught fire. He was pulled from the burning car by passing citizens who then transported him to Snowville, Utah. They were met by an air ambulance and Cpl. Hobbs was transported to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, Utah. Kerrigan was subsequently apprehended 17 hours later, convicted of battery upon a police officer, aggravated battery and use of a deadly weapon in the commission of a felony and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

The awarding of the Purple Heart to Corporal Hobbs was delayed since the time of his heroic acts as ISP did not have this award in 1991.

The Idaho State Police Life Saving Award will be presented to Trooper Brian Stradling for saving the life of Mr. Bernd Hoffman on June 12, 2012. The ISP Life Saving Award is awarded to an ISP employee who saves the life of another person, whether on-duty or off-duty. Two Idaho Department of Transportation employees, Julie Roseborough and Renae Eddings, will also receive commendation for their heroism in also saving Mr. Hoffman's life.

On June 12, 2012, Trooper Stradling was dispatched to a call regarding a report of a man who had collapsed at the Cotterell Port of Entry, located on Interstate 84 at milepost 229 in eastern Cassia County. When Trooper Stardling arrived on the scene, Roseborough and Eddings, who work at the Port of Entry, were performing CPR on the male victim, Bernd Hoffman. Trooper Stradling retrieved the automated external defibrillator (AED) from his patrol car and administered two charges to Hoffman, who was unresponsive. When the Cassia County Quick Response Unit ambulance arrived, Hoffman was starting to regain consciousness and he was transported to the Cassia Regional Medical Center. During transport, the EMT's had to administer four more charges to Hoffman. He was stabilized at the hospital and air lifted to St. Luke's Magic Valley Medical Center in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Mr. Hoffman had a clogged artery called the "widow maker" and had 99% blockage in his artery. With this type of blockage, the patient does not usually survive. Because of the fast actions and calm demeanor of Mses. Roseborough, Eddings and Trooper Stradling, the victim survived and is doing well.

In addition to administering life-saving care, Roseboruugh and Eddings drove Mr. Hoffman and his wife's vehicle to the hospital.

The ceremony will be held at the Idaho State Police District 4 Offices at 218 West Yakima in Jerome.