AUSTIN – Today, members of the Public Safety Commission (PSC), along with DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin, honored courage, quick thinking and dedication to safety during the October PSC meeting held at DPS Headquarters in Austin.
“The individuals being honored here today are no doubt making Texas a safer place for all of us to call home,” said DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin. “They stepped up when someone was in trouble; they saw a problem and worked to fix it. Each day they strive to be better and make this state better, and it’s a true honor to recognize them for that.”
The following people were honored:
DIRECTOR’S CITATION:
On May 7, 2026, Trooper Michael Smierciak encountered an active domestic disturbance at the vehicle gate at DPS’ Austin District Office. After hearing repeated horn blasts, he approached the vehicle and saw a male and female engaged in a physical altercation. While speaking with the female, the male got out of the vehicle and repeatedly said he wanted to die, demanding Trooper Smierciak shoot him.
Trooper Smierciak tried to de-escalate the situation, but the man ran onto the frontage road and toward the southbound lanes of Interstate 35. Trooper Smierciak pursued him on foot. As the subject attempted to vault a concrete construction barrier and enter the lanes of interstate traffic, Trooper Smierciak grabbed him by the collar to stop him. Criminal Investigations Division Special Agent Patrick Alonzo then assisted from the opposite side, as the two safely subdued the man.
After ensuring he was restrained, Trooper Smierciak got his vehicle and positioned it on the interstate to block traffic and protect everyone on scene. His actions demonstrated decisive judgment, situational awareness and a strong commitment to public safety.
In recognition of his significant and decisive response to a life-threatening situation, Trooper Michael Smierciak (Johnson City) is hereby awarded the Director’s Citation.
In Aug. 2025, Sergeant Benjamin Polansky encountered a major investigative challenge involving Toyota vehicles equipped with Techstream technology. Although Techstream systems store valuable crash data and forward-facing images – the only known retrieval method requires repowering the vehicle through the data link connector port – something that is often not an option for reconstruction teams. While direct‑to‑module access existed for most airbag control modules, that was not available anywhere in the field for Techstream units.
Determined to overcome this barrier, Sergeant Polansky collaborated with the Forensic Training Group. With their permission, Sergeant Polansky and Trooper Thomas Thurston carefully reverse-engineered the concept, spending an evening tracing wiring schematics and documenting each component. Through exceptional initiative and technical precision, they produced a functional prototype and soon obtained their first two direct‑to‑module images – something no other agency had done.
Since then, Sergeant Polansky and Trooper Thurston have conducted 16 successful Techstream direct‑to‑module acquisitions that would otherwise have been impossible. Their innovation has enhanced multiple investigations, including a Houston Police Department murder case in which recovered data revealed hard steering inputs and other critical information associated with a suspect’s evading behavior. In April 2026, their work contributed to a defendant pleading guilty to Intoxication Manslaughter and accepting a 13‑year sentence, supported by Techstream data documenting both the crash event and multiple intoxicated driving incidents within the hour preceding the collision.
The impact of this advancement extends beyond Texas. After presenting the capability at the 2025 State Crash Managers’ Meeting in Tennessee, other states have implemented the method based entirely on their detailed technical guidance.
In recognition of their significant, innovative contributions to the State Crash Reconstruction Team, delivering substantial benefits to investigations across Texas and beyond, Sergeant Benjamin Polansky (New Caney) and Trooper Thomas Thurston (New Caney) are hereby awarded the Medal of Merit.
LIFESAVING & DIRECTOR'S AWARD:
On May 3, 2026, Lieutenant Richard Sanchez responded immediately when a parishioner collapsed and struck his head during services at St. Joseph’s Honey Creek Catholic Church. He provided rapid first aid, directed church members to call 911 and coordinated clearing the area for emergency care. Comal County Sheriff Sergeant Greg Reese, who serves as a volunteer off‑duty peace officer for the church, assisted in retrieving and applying the church’s AED, which indicated the parishioner was in cardiac distress. After the shock was delivered, Lieutenant Sanchez initiated CPR, and he and Sergeant Reese alternated CPR and AED use until EMS arrived. They relayed critical information and supported EMS personnel until transport was complete. Their calm, coordinated actions under pressure exemplified professionalism, preparedness and the dedication expected of first responders.
In recognition of their significant and decisive response to a life-threatening situation resulting in the saving of a life, Special Agent Richard Sanchez (San Antonio) is hereby awarded the Lifesaving Award, and Sergeant Greg Reese is hereby awarded the Director's Award.
LIFESAVING AWARD:
On Dec. 15, 2025, Texas Highway Patrol personnel and Palestine Police Department officers were conducting a live‑fire exercise at the Palestine Firearms Range. During one of the scenarios, a DPS Trooper began to draw his weapon when the firearm accidentally discharged. Corporal Jimmy Spraggins was on scene and helped the injured Trooper to the ground.
The wound was too high for a tourniquet, so Corporal Spraggins immediately applied direct pressure. A Palestine Police Department Corporal was also on scene and began to assist.
The Trooper was stabilized and then transported to a medical center in a patrol vehicle while the assisting officers monitored his condition. Due to the swift, coordinated and expert medical response provided by Corporal Spraggins and others, the injured Trooper survived and made a full recovery.
In recognition of his significant and decisive response to a life-threatening situation resulting in the saving of a life, Corporal Jimmy Spraggins (Palestine) is hereby awarded the Lifesaving Award.
LIFESAVING AWARD:
On June 24, 2026, Trooper Monte Jackson Jr. responded to a truck‑tractor/semi‑trailer rollover in Pecos County. Upon arrival, bystanders informed him that the driver was severely injured and had suffered a traumatic amputation of his left arm. Trooper Jackson located the driver and quickly assessed the injuries, noting a makeshift tourniquet applied with a bystander’s belt. Because the brachial artery continued to bleed, Trooper Jackson immediately applied a department‑issued tourniquet to the upper left arm, successfully controlling the hemorrhage. He continuously monitored and reassessed the driver until additional emergency medical personnel arrived on scene. Trooper Jackson’s decisive and skilled actions played a critical role in saving the driver’s life.
In recognition of his significant and decisive response to a life-threatening situation resulting in the saving of a life, Trooper Monte Jackson Jr. (Fort Stockton) is hereby awarded the Lifesaving Award.
UNIT CITATION:
The Department of Public Safety (DPS) Criminal Investigations Division (CID) 6CI Drug Squad, working alongside the Cedar Park Police Department, the FBI, the DPS Houston Methamphetamine Initiative Group and the Katy Police Department, conducted a major state wire intercept investigation named “Operation Breaking Worse.” The operation targeted the Shamard Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO), which operated across multiple Central Texas counties. Through extensive investigative techniques, including surveillance, directed traffic stops, undercover operations, analytical research and wire intercepts, agents identified the DTO’s leadership, supply sources in Southeast Texas and Juarez, Mexico, and multiple co-conspirators.
The operation resulted in 25 arrests and indictments, including two individuals associated with fentanyl overdose murders. Agents seized over 7.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 34,450 lethal doses of fentanyl, additional narcotics, firearms, vehicles and $64,425 in currency. Homeland Security Division analysts Raquel Quintero and Jake Breder provided critical real‑time intelligence support, directly contributing to the successful identification, arrest and indictment of DTO members.
Those recommended for their hard work and dedication include Lieutenant Tania Pagan-Ortiz, Special Agents Wayne Cipriani, Justin Winkler, Kevin Callihan, Matthew Julian, Christian Holloway, and Josh De La Garza, and Analysts Raquel Quintero and Jake Breder.
They are hereby awarded the Unit Citation.
Please join us in congratulating these award recipients. To view additional photos, please click here.
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(HQ 2026-109)