AUSTIN – On Thursday, the Texas Public Safety Commission (PSC) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Steven McCraw presented two Purple Hearts, one Lifesaving Award,two Director’s Awards, and a Unit Citation. Additionally, the Texas Rangers were recognized by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and a long-time Driver License employee was remembered.
“The awards we presented today epitomize Texas at its finest,” said Director McCraw. “Each of the award recipients performed admirably with bravery and dedication in varying situations, and we couldn’t be more proud of the efforts by these outstanding men and women.”
The following awards were presented:
- Trooper James Glaze, Texas Highway Patrol–Plano,received a Life Saving Award and Dallas Police Department Officer Penelope Bernal and Dallas Police Department Cpl. Charles Jeffers each received a Director’s Award.On July 2, 2017, Trooper Glaze received a call from the North Texas Tollway Authority regarding a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes in Dallas. Glaze responded to the area and located a motorcycle rider with a severe, life-threatening leg injury. Cpl. Jeffers was applying a leather belt as a tourniquet to stop the profuse bleeding. Trooper Glaze immediately began assisting. As Cpl. Jeffers tired from the exertion of keeping enough pressure to control the bleeding, Officer Bernal took over from her fellow officer while Trooper Glaze utilized Officer Bernal’s tourniquet, after the original tourniquet broke. Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel arrived on scene shortly after Trooper Glaze successfully applied the second tourniquet and took over rescue efforts. The trauma surgeon that treated the victim indicated the application of the leather belt and subsequent tourniquets were instrumental in saving the victim’s life until he was transported to a higher level of care.
- Former Trooper Emory King Jr. received a Purple Heart. On October 20, 2014, Trooper King was completing an inspection on a truck tractor/semi-trailer on the improved shoulder of State Highway 288 near the city of Angleton (Brazoria County). After completing the roadside inspection, Trooper King returned to his patrol unit to type the inspection report, but his patrol unit was struck from behind by a separate truck pulling a loaded flatbed semi-trailer. The collision crushed King’s patrol unit, pinning him inside. Trooper King was extracted from the patrol unit and subsequently transported by life-flight to a hospital in Houston. Due to his extensive injuries, Trooper King has had to undergo extensive rehabilitation and is still impacted by injuries sustained in the wreck. Trooper King resigned from the department in October 2015.
- Trooper Danny Shaw Jr., Highway Patrol–Terrell, received a Purple Heart. On Nov. 25, 2016, Trooper Shaw was deployed to the Rio Grande Valley in support of border operations. Trooper Shaw, and other state and federal officers, were patrolling the border in Starr County when gunfire was reported on the Mexican side of the border. The gunfire was suspected to be an exchange of gunfire between the Mexican military and three individuals attempting to illegally gain entry into the U.S. Trooper Shaw responded to the area with the intent of monitoring and preventing the violence from crossing into the U.S. While monitoring the situation, an unknown person from the Mexican side of the border fired upon the Texas-based officers. Trooper Shaw was struck in the right hip, causing significant injuries, which he is still recovering from.
- The Intelligence and Counterterrorism-Texas Ranger Analytical Support Unit, of Austin, received a Unit Citation. Since January of 2011, the Texas Ranger Analytical Support Unit has dedicated itself to supporting the Texas Ranger Division, including the Missing Persons Clearinghouse and the Unidentified Persons and DNA Unit. In 2016, the Unit conducted 4,655 analytical assists, resulting in identifying three missing persons, eight unidentified located persons, and 33 suspects. The unit supports the department’s efforts regarding high-risk missing juveniles and attempted abductions throughout the state. The Unit has also developed a great working relationship with the U.S. Department of State to help identify and locate missing persons and fugitives. During the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the unit supported efforts by state and local agencies locating next of kin or children separated from their families. Analyst Supervisor Heidi Prather; and Crime Analysts Teresa Becker, Susan Burroughs, Courtney Fowler, Camila Plaisted, Melanie Schramm, and Lance Fuller were recognized as part of the Unit Citation.
- Texas Ranger Nick Hanna, Company E San Angelo, and the Texas Ranger Division each received a Certificate of Recognition from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Sergeant Terry Jacklin of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police presented the awards at the PSC meeting for assistance in developing cases in Canada based on the 2008 Texas Rangers investigation of the Fundamentalist Group of Latter Day Saints, known as the FLDS, in Schleicher County, Texas. During the investigation, it was discovered underage girls were transported from Canada to locations in the U.S. for the purpose of “spiritual marriages” with much older men, resulting in the sexual assault of girls as young as 12-years-old. Ranger Hanna, the case agent and evidence custodian for the FLDS cases in Texas, assisted RCMP Agents developing cases in Canada. To date, this evidence has helped the RCMP bring several FLDS members to trial, resulting in criminal convictions for the transportation of underage girls across international lines for the purpose of sexual abuse.
- Also at the PSC meeting, there was a Texas Flag Presentation in honor of Barbara Ann Jenkins, Driver License Division–Austin, who was months away from 50 years of service with DPS when she passed away on Sept. 14, 2017. A certificate signed by Governor Greg Abbot and a flag, which has been flown over the State Capitol, were presented to Jenkins’ family.
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