WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt County Sheriff Ed Kilgore presented two Medals of Merit and other special commendations at the first Humboldt County Commission meeting in December.
He said the events prompting his action revolved around the two officer-involved shootings that occurred just five days apart in October.
Undersheriff Curtiss Kull, who is in charge of the dispatch center, read a commendation for dispatcher Cami Durick.
Kull held up his radio and noted that when law enforcement is involved in serious situations, the support of those on their other end of that radio is essential.
"When we key this mic we need help, and a lot of times in serious incidents we, unfortunately, forget the people behind the scenes who answer those calls."
Kull said on Oct 18, when deputies were dispatched to assist Pershing County deputies in a violent domestic battery call, they were fired on by the suspect. They returned fire and incapacitated the suspect.
The entire incident, including all of medical response and law enforcement dispatching, was handled at the Humboldt County dispatch center by operator Durick, who the sheriff's commendation stated, "performed in an outstanding manner, assuring that all units received whatever assistance they requested."
The sheriff's commendation for dispatch supervisor Sheri McDaniel said she was temporarily alone at the center when Humboldt County deputies responded to assist NDI with a vehicle pursuit in the Golconda area on Oct. 23. At the conclusion of the pursuit, the suspect exited his vehicle and immediately began firing at the officers. Law enforcement returned fire, killing the suspect.
The sheriff said McDaniel suitably and effectively handled this incident, adding that during both of these critical and dangerous situations, field units were exceptionally taken care of by their lifeline back at dispatch.
McDaniel wasn't present for the award because she was attending a training class.
A Medal of Merit went to Sgt. Chris Aker. The sheriff said that during the Pershing County incident on Oct. 18, members of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office were requested to assist the Pershing County Sheriff's Office on the report of a domestic violence call with shots being fired in the Grass Valley area.
Upon arriving at the scene, HCSO Sgt. Chris Aker and Deputy Jeanine Poor were met by an armed male in the front yard of the residence, who immediately pointed a weapon at them and began firing.
Sgt. Aker and Deputy Poor, along with a Pershing County deputy, then engaged the suspect in return gunfire. The suspect was incapacitated and then taken into custody.
The sheriff acknowledged Sgt. Aker's "exceptional performance and extreme bravery while coming under gunfire in this stressful and dangerous call," he said. "I'm honored to present him with this office's highest honor, the Sheriff's Medal of Merit."
Sgt. Lee Dove also received a Medal of Merit for his actions during another shooting event five days later on Oct. 23 on I-80. HCSO was called to assist Nevada Division of Investigation in attempting to stop a vehicle which had fled a checkpoint on Interstate 80. When the vehicle finally came to a stop in Golconda, the sheriff said a lone male suspect exited and began firing a semi-automatic rifle at the law enforcement units.
"A very intense and dangerous gun battle ensued. Upon Sgt. Dove's arrival he immediately began assisting the officer who were now pinned down by the suspect's gunfire by returning fire. Sgt. Dove and two other law enforcement personnel at the scene began moving and shooting at the suspect and eventually stopped the threat."
The sheriff also took the opportunity to present a Citizen's Commendation Award to Humboldt County Communications Department Tech Ric Grantham, noting his essential role in the new Public Safety Dispatch Center that now finally allows the dispatch staff to become exclusively Public Safety Dispatchers. The sheriff said without Grantham's expertise and vast knowledge of communications systems, the project "would not have come so seamlessly to fruition."
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