Members of the Wisconsin State Patrol receive awards for saving lives and other exemplary service

September 11, 2007

Awardees from Salem, Two Rivers, Tomah, New Lisbon, Osseo, Iola, Boscobel, Wausaukee, Rhinelander and Middleton honored at Sept. 11 ceremony

Ten members of the Wisconsin State Patrol received special awards at a ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 11, in the Governor’s Conference Room at the State Capitol in Madison.

State Patrol Superintendent David Collins said, “All members of the State Patrol are devoted to improving highway and public safety. But the members of the State Patrol who received special awards have demonstrated exceptional service and courage under extremely stressful conditions. Their achievements go well above and beyond their normal duties.” 

The following members of the State Patrol were honored with special awards:

• Inspector David M. Torres of Salem—Meritorious Service Award: While conducting a traffic stop on April 27, 2007, Inspector David Torres was told by a passing motorist that a truck with its back tire or brakes on fire was approaching his position. When Inspector Torres saw the truck pull over to the side of the highway, he went to assist. Soon after he arrived at the scene, there was a loud explosion from the truck that filled the air with heavy black smoke. He then saw the truck driver lying unconscious on the road in the path of approaching vehicles. Putting himself in danger of getting hit by vehicles traveling at highway speeds, Inspector Torres immediately grabbed the dazed driver by his belt and dragged him off the road to safety. Because of Inspector Torres’s quick and decisive actions, the truck driver survived.
• Trooper Bryan R. Ashenbrenner of Two Rivers—Lifesaving Award: Trooper Bryan Ashenbrenner responded to a report of woman who had collapsed and had no pulse on July 7, 2006. Upon arrival, he found a person performing CPR on the woman. He relieved that person and continued CPR while a sheriff’s deputy employed a defibrillator. Trooper Ashenbrenner and the deputy continued emergency procedures until paramedics arrived. Trooper Ashenbrenner’s actions helped save the woman’s life.
• Inspector Kevin M. Borreson of Tomah —Lifesaving Award: Inspector Kevin Borreson responded to one-car rollover crash in Monroe County on June 23, 2006. A passenger had been ejected from the vehicle. As the first officer to arrive at the scene, Inspector Borreson assessed the ejected female passenger, who was not breathing and had no discernable heartbeat. He then began CPR on the crash victim with the assistance of a firefighter. The victim began to breath and a heartbeat was detected. Inspector Borreson remained calm while continuing emergency chest compressions. However, despite the prompt actions of responders, the female passenger later died of injuries sustained in the crash.
• Trooper Gary A. Cowan of New Lisbon—Lifesaving Award: When Trooper Gary Cowan responded to a crash scene on Aug. 29, 2006, he found a disoriented driver standing near the vehicle. The driver said he was taking medication to control seizures and may have experienced a seizure at the time of the crash. However, the driver refused medical attention. Soon after the ambulance left, the driver fell to the ground and started to choke. Trooper Cowan discovered an obstruction in the driver’s airway. Moments after Trooper Cowan removed the obstruction, the driver was able to breath again. He was taken to the hospital and survived.
• Trooper Marvin J. Kittelson of Osseo—Lifesaving Award: Trooper Marvin Kittelson responded to a residence after receiving a report that an individual inside the home may be in trouble on Sept. 5, 2006. Upon arriving at the residence, Trooper Kittelson and a sheriff’s deputy heard a vehicle running inside a locked garage. They had to enter the garage by kicking in two doors. The garage was filled with carbon monoxide. Trooper Kittelson found a semi-conscious female in the back of the vehicle and immediately moved her outside. She had a pulse and was breathing on her own. Emergency medical services transported her to the hospital. It was later determined that she had a blood alcohol content of 0.30 and had swallowed several types of medication. Trooper Kittelson’s actions helped save her life.
• Trooper Lori L. Maples of Iola—Lifesaving Award: Trooper Lori Maples responded to a gas station parking lot on July 1, 2006, to assist an ill woman. Trooper Maples called an ambulance because the woman’s breathing was labored. The woman then turned a grayish color and began to perspire. Within a few moments, she lost consciousness. Trooper Maples began CPR until an ambulance arrived. The woman’s husband was at the scene and became emotionally distraught. Trooper Maples spent a considerable amount of time with him and helped him contact family members. She showed considerable compassion to the family during and after the incident. Her lifesaving actions and compassion for the victim and her family helped resolve an emergency situation.
• Trooper Briant J. Russell of Boscobel—Lifesaving Award: Trooper Briant Russell wasoff-duty and attending church with his family on Feb. 4, 2007, when his wife pointed out a man who was slumped in a pew. Trooper Russell responded and found the man was unconscious. Trooper Russell immediately began CPR chest compressions while another church member administered rescue breaths. Trooper Russell continued CPR until an ambulance arrived. The man survived because of Trooper Russell’s prompt and effective lifesaving actions.
• Police Communications Supervisor (PCS) Wendy Lynn Gribben of Wausaukee— Commendable Service Award: PCS Gribben was shopping on April 14, 2006, when an announcement on the store’s loudspeaker asked for help from anyone trained in CPR. She and an emergency medical technician responded and found a 7-month-old infant lying on a store counter. The EMT administered CPR while PCS Gribben tried to stimulate a response from the baby who was very pale and extremely cold. The child was unresponsive. CPR was continued and eventually the child regurgitated. PCS Gribben cleared the fluid from the baby’s mouth. The child, who had a congenital medical condition, still displayed no signs of life. Other EMTs arrived and transported the child to a hospital. Despite the best efforts by PCS Gribben and others, the child later died at the hospital.
• Sgt. Jay Sampson of Rhinelander—Commendable Service Award: To fulfill its public safety and homeland security mission, the State Patrol was directed to reinvigorate its commitment to criminal and terrorist interdiction in 2005 and to make it a statewide priority. Sgt. Jay Sampson as the State Patrol’s criminal interdiction program coordinator helped formulate goals and operating policies as well as initiate a comprehensive training curriculum for State Patrol troopers and inspectors. The State Patrol’s renewed criminal interdiction efforts have substantially increased seizures of drugs, weapons, and other contraband. 
• Jean Rickman of Middleton—Commendable Service Award: Executive Staff Assistant Jean Rickman deals with numerous and complex inquiries to the State Patrol leadership staff at state headquarters in Madison. She also assists the five State Patrol regions with various tasks when they experience staffing shortages. Her ability to work with an array of agencies and staff to accomplish difficult assignments are a testimony to her organizational and interpersonal skills.

For more information, contact:
Steve Olson, (608) 261-5896