Governor Parson awards 18 first responder public safety medals, Trooper Neely among 4 receiving Medal of Valor

On Oct. 7, Governor Mike Parson presented 18 first responders with Missouri Public Safety Medals for heroic, life-saving, or extraordinary acts beyond the call of duty to protect the public during 2018.
Trooper Matthew W. Neely, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop H, was one of four recipients of the Medal of Valor. He received the valor award for the capture of a gunman in Daviess County.
Trooper Neely of Cameron was a member of the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s 102nd Recruit Class and began his duties with Zone 10, which serves the citizens of DeKalb and Daviess counties, in July 2016.
On March 19, 2018, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Department advised Troop H Headquarters of a theft in progress at a residence in Ridgeway. Trooper Neely observed a vehicle matching the suspect’s vehicle description traveling southbound on Interstate 35 and attempted to overtake it. The vehicle exited Interstate 35 and traveled westbound on Missouri Route N in Daviess County, then slid through the intersection of Route N and U.S. Highway 69 and crashed into a utility pole.
As Trooper Neely arrived, the male driver and female passenger exited the vehicle. The male driver fled on foot. Trooper Neely advised the passenger she was under arrest and to stay with the vehicle before beginning a foot pursuit after the driver.
As Trooper Neely chased the driver across an open field, the subject turned, raised a Glock handgun, and fired multiple shots at the trooper. Trooper Neely obtained cover behind a field terrace.
When the shooting stopped, he notified Troop H of shots fired and advanced on the subject while issuing commands that he drop his weapon. The suspect failed to comply and attempted to re-engage Trooper Neely. Trooper Neely then fired his Patrol issued weapon striking the suspect twice and stopping the threat.
He and other officers on scene then provided first aid to the suspect until medical personnel arrived and transported the suspect to the hospital for treatment of his injuries.
A jury trial for Elmer Martin Sorrell of High Ridge is scheduled April 22-24, 2020, in Daviess County Circuit Court on charges of assault first degree, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of firearm, stealing firearm, stealing and resisting arrest.
Additional Medals of Valor
Medals of Valor were also awarded to Sergeant Shawn D. Fields, Stone County Sheriff’s Office, for heroic, life-saving rescue efforts during the Table Rock Lake duck boat sinking, which claimed the lives of 17 people; and to Officers Jeremy E. Bratton and Kyle B. Schmidt, St. Charles Police Department, for confronting and wounding a violent murder suspect in a gun battle that led to his capture.
Governor’s Medals
Governor’s Medal were awareded to: Captain Cody B. Ross (Retired), Lt. Jason M. Huff, Major Cade A. Thompson, Capt. Andrew W. Fritzinger, Missouri Department of Corrections; Chief Richard W. Bashor, Cameron Police Department; and Trooper Bradley R. Muck, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Troop H, for daring, decisive, and successful efforts to end a volatile standoff with more than 200 offenders at the Crossroads Corrections Center in Cameron;
Lt. Daniel B. Tscherny, Capt. Jason G. Bogema (Retired), Rescue Specialist Tony C. Fields, Firefighter Joshua W. Bravestone, Firefighter Zachary L. Keller, Firefighter Garett L. Olson, Firefighter Tyler R. Nevins, and Firefighter Dustin C. Matney, Springfield Fire Department, for courageous and persistent efforts beyond the call of duty in an attempt to rescue Greene County Deputy Sheriff Aaron Paul Roberts, who was killed when his vehicle was swept away in flash flooding.
Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award
The Governor also presented six civilians with awards for exceptional acts to assist first responders and the public during 2018:
Wesley D. Hilton, nominated by the Clinton Police Department, for courageous, life-sustaining support for a police officer wounded in an ongoing gun battle in which another Clinton Police officer, Christopher Ryan Morton, was killed.
Catherine Stepps, nominated by the St. Louis Fire Department, for the heroic rescue of a neighbor from his burning house.
Tyler Preston, Gabriel Gowen, and Jordan Lambay, nominated by the Kirksville Police Department, for their heroic intervention that ended the attack of an axe-wielding man upon a woman who had sustained life-threatening injuries.
Marlin Matchett, nominated by the Taney County Ambulance District, for heroic, life-saving rescue efforts during the Table Rock Lake duck boat sinking, which claimed the lives of 17 people.