Marshfield Police Department Presents Awards for Life-Saving Actions

OnFocus – Marshfield Police Department recently held a series of small events to present their 2020 awards. Department members submit nominations which are reviewed by a committee.

Lt. Jason Punke was awarded a valor award for his actions during a 32-mile vehicle pursuit on April 1, 2020. Independent of that, he was also selected as the Marshfield Police Department Officer of the Year.

Additionally, Transport Officer / Adult Crossing Guard Don Gleisner was selected as Member of the Year.

Both Administrative Associate Peg Lindner and Lead Officer Steven Meek were presented with Career Achievement Awards for their extensive service to the community prior to recent retirements.

 

The committee also recognized officers involved in 5 separate incidents, and 10 life-saving events involving either CPR or Narcan in 2020.

 

 

 

“This recognition is for department members who were directly involved in resolving a

critical incident through effective communication, innovative/quick thinking, initiative, excellent use of knowledge and skills seldom drawn upon, calm and controlled presence of mind, or extraordinary individual or team effort,” said Lt Dennis Keffer.

The committee presented Lt. Travis Esser, Officer Blake Borchardt, Officer Chris Hasz, Officer Anthony Klein, Officer Cory Christian, & Officer Terry Endries a Critical Incident recognition for their actions on April 7, 2020 in the investigation and apprehension of a Marathon County homicide suspect.

“The committee recognizes the teamwork, skill and professionalism displayed by all during the progress of this investigation,” said Keffer. “Your actions resulted in the prompt arrest of the 22 year-old man suspected of stabbing and killing two men.”

Officer Jamie Kizer was next recognized for his response to an aggressive dog on April 30, 2020.

Lt. Jason Punke, Det. Allen Neinast, Officer Josh Larsen, Officer Allie Eckes, Officer Landon Kramer, Officer Robert Beathard, Officer Kelly Ament, Ord. Officer Bob Larsen, Lt. Travis Sherden, Officer Alex Mitchell, & Officer Cory Christian were then recognized for their response to a call of a missing elderly dementia patient on July 3, 2020.

“Many of these department members worked for approximately 7 hours in 88-degree temperatures to comb the southeast area of Marshfield for the missing woman, while continuing to troubleshoot and coordinate external resources to find her,” said Keffer. “The situation grew more dire with every passing hour. The efforts resulted in the woman being found injured, but alive.”

Community Member Commendable Action Award was sent to Kim and Joe Maney and their search and rescue K9 Reba.

“The Maney’s responded from Three Lakes to voluntarily search for the woman in the previous incident. They did not request any compensation or seek any publicity for their efforts. K9 Reba tracked the missing woman for over 90 minutes and was on her track when she was independently found,” said Keffer.

Lt. Dennis Keffer, Officer Aaron Wargowsky, Officer Allie Eckes, Det. Allen Neinast, Lt. Jason Punke, Det. Jason Parks, & Lt. Travis Sherden were recognized for their efforts toward protecting residents and searching for improvised explosive devices on December 3rd and December 5th, 2020.

“These incidents involved teamwork, tact in working with displaced residents, and coordinating other responding agencies . . . all while assessing ongoing safety concerns,” said Keffer.

Officer Jessie Tlachac, Officer Sam Fox, & Officer Mack Scheppler were recognized for their actions during a stolen vehicle pursuit and subsequent resistive arrest on December 8, 2020. Officers Fox and Tlachac were the primarily involved officers in a pursuit which began for them with the suspect vehicle driving at them in the wrong lane of traffic.

“Officers Fox and Tlachac demonstrated sound decision making during this pursuit which ended with brief foot pursuit,” said Keffer. “Officer Scheppler had a subsequent foot pursuit within the Marshfield Medical Center ER where the cornered man resisted him for over a minute until control was obtained.”

The Life-Saving Award recognizes department members who took action to preserve life when serious injury or death could have occurred. Intervention efforts may include CPR, administration of Narcan, a form of extraction, etc.

The following officers received a Life-Saving Award:

• Officer Josh Larsen – For his actions to preserve the life of a 24 year-old male through administration of Narcan when he was found unresponsive on the living room floor related to a suspected Oxycodone overdose on 01-05-20.
• Officers Libby Abel and Jacob Maxson – For their actions to preserve the life of an unresponsive woman through the application of CPR after she was found on the floor of her room by family on 03-17-20.
• Officer Kelly Ament – For her actions to preserve the life of an unresponsive 2 month-old through the application of CPR on 03-19-20.
• Officers Alex Mitchell and Robert Beathard – For their actions to preserve the life of a 49 year-old male through administration of Narcan after he was found unresponsive in a driveway due to a suspected heroin overdose on 03-23-20.
• Lt. Jody Geurink and Officer Sam Fox – For their actions to preserve life of a 24 year-old male through administration of Narcan for a suspected heroin overdose after he was found by his family to be unresponsive in a chair on 04-09-20.
• Officer Rochley Gross – For his actions to preserve life of a middle aged man through the application of CPR after he was unresponsive and not breathing from a choking incident on 04-24-20.
• Detective Kevin Hamill – For his actions to preserve the life of a 36 year-old male through administration of Narcan after he collapsed in his backyard of a suspected heroin overdose on 04-24-20.
• Officers Libby Abel and Jacob Maxson – For their actions to preserve the life of a 36 year-old male through administration of Narcan after he was found unresponsive in a convenience store restroom on 08-10-20.
• Officer Allie Eckes – For her actions to preserve the life of a 70 year-old woman through the application of CPR after she was found unresponsive in the entryway of a residence on 09-01-2020.
• Officer Mack Scheppler – For his actions to preserve the life of a 56 year-old woman through the application of CPR subsequent to an apparent suicide attempt on 11-24-20.

We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected]!