Gov. Perry Honors Fallen and Injured Texas Peace Officers and First Responders

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today honored peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who have been seriously injured or killed in the line of duty for the sacrifices they have made to protect Texans. The governor spoke at the annual Star of Texas Awards.

“September 11th renewed our sense of appreciation for the men and women who are first upon the scene of tragedy and step into harm’s way to protect the innocent,” Gov. Perry said. “I am honored to stand with so many of our state’s finest to present the Star of Texas Awards to those who set aside concerns for their own safety in order to preserve and protect the lives of their fellow citizens.”

The Star of Texas Awards were created through House Bill 1937 in 2003 to honor and commemorate selected first responders who made profound commitments while performing their duties as peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical first responders. House Bill 1937 also designated September 11th as Texas First Responders Day.

In 2005, the award was expanded to include all peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty on or after Sept. 1, 2003. The awards were further expanded in 2007 by House Bill 1164 to include federal law enforcement officers or special agents seriously injured or killed while performing duties in Texas to assist a state or local law enforcement agency. Three advisory committees are appointed by the governor to review award nominations each year to ensure they meet statutory criteria.

This year’s award recipients are as follows:

Peace Officers Killed in the Line of Duty:
Timothy Abernathy, Officer, Houston Police Department
Stuart Alexander, Lieutenant, Corpus Christi Police Department
Dayle Weston Hardy, Officer, Plano Police Department
Jeffrey Howard McCoy, Patrolman, Abilene Police Department
Teyran Patterson, Game Warden, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Norman Smith, Senior Corporal, Dallas Police Department
Matthew Thebeau, Officer, Corpus Christi Police Department
Randy White, Sergeant, Bridgeport Police Department

Firefighters Killed in the Line of Duty:
James Campbell, Firefighter, Pendleton Harbor Volunteer Fire Department
Cory Galloway, Firefighter, Kilgore Fire Department
James Harlow, Captain, Houston Fire Department
Damion Hobbs, Firefighter, Houston Fire Department
Joe Pat Jordan, Secretary/Treasurer, Pickton Pine Forest Volunteer Fire Department
Kyle Perkins, Firefighter, Kilgore Fire Department

First Responders Killed in the Line of Duty:
Robert Goss, Valley Air Care
Raul Garcia, Valley Air Care
Michael Sanchez, Valley Air Care

Peace Officers Seriously Injured in the Line of Duty:
Carlos Diaz, Officer, Harlingen Police Department
Dennis Hankins, Officer, West Orange Police Department
Kevin Holley, Deputy Sheriff, Dallas County Sheriff’s Department
Michael Jarmin, Officer, Bay City Police Department
Zachary McBride, Investigator, Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Department
Rodney McCrory, Officer, North Richland Hills Police Department
Lloyd Morrison, Senior Police Officer, Houston Police Department
Brian Motto, Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office
Craig Mrosko, Officer, Waco Police Department
Angel Perez, Deputy Sheriff, Cameron County Sheriff’s Department
Michel Roy, Galveston County Sheriff’s Office
Steven Rutherford, Officer, Farmers Branch Police Department
Richard Salter, Senior Police Officer, Houston Police Department
Kevin Schmidt, Officer, Flower Mound Police Department
Doyle Thorn, Sergeant, Matagorda County Sheriff’s Office

Firefighters Injured in the Line of Duty:
Cody Schroeder, Firefighter, Beaumont Fire/Rescue Department

For more information about the Star of Texas Awards, please visit http://governor.state.tx.us/cjd/star_awards/