Navajo County Sheriff KC Clark recognized first responders during the Navajo County Board of Supervisors meeting last week. Snowflake-Taylor Police Dispatcher Kathleen Lockwood, Sheriff’s Deputy Jim Hudspeth, Snowflake-Taylor police officers Sergeant Dan Rush and Officer Brandon Gardner, Arizona Department of Public Safety Trooper Russ Sipes, Snowflake Fire Department Chief Willie Nelson, and Snowflake-Taylor EMTs Matt Krekeler and Mead Tenney were each thanked for their response to an emergency situation on Aug. 5.
The incident involved a 911 call to STPD of a female intending to commit suicide with a knife. Officers from the varying departments responded to the call and immediately began performing life saving measures. The woman was transported to Summit Regional Medical Center with DPS Trooper Sipes driving the ambulance as EMTs were needed to continue working to save the victim’s life. Once at the hospital, the victim was transported by helicopter to Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. There, it was determined that she would pull through her injuries.
“One of the honors and privileges I have as sheriff,” said Clark, “is I get to recognize people throughout our county, within our department and others (for their) acts of heroism, goodness, kindness and decency. We have first responders that do that across our county each day and it’s an honor to get to shake their hands.”
District III Supervisor Jason Whiting said, “I wanted to personally tell you, each and every one of you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Some of you know. I was there when this happened, and I got to see the compassion and the manner in which you dealt with the public. You truly are public servants. Not only at that moment you cared for the family but also afterward they continued to receive phone calls from you. I sincerely appreciate you and the work that you do.”
