Troop E officers among honorees who were presented 35 awards at Patrol awards ceremony

SIKESTON — Southeast Missouri employees with the Missouri State Highway Patrol were recognized over the weekend for their life-saving actions in 2021.

Missouri State Highway Patrol on Monday released the names of recipients of 35 awards to its employees who were recognized for their actions at the awards ceremony April 29 at the Holiday Inn Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri.

“I want to congratulate the award winners and recognize that they went above and beyond what is expected of them,” said Col. Eric T. Olson, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “It is truly an honor to serve as the superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.”

Officers in Troop E were recognized with the Patrol’s Lifesaving Award, which is presented to an active or retired employee who is distinguished by saving the life of another person. The Patrol presented 22 Lifesaving Awards for actions taken in 2021.

At approximately 4:08 p.m. July 31, 2021, Trooper James A. Rowe of Troop E, was traveling westbound on East Malone Avenue in Sikeston, near the intersection of Kingshighway, when he observed an SUV in a parking lot. The SUV was moving, but there didn’t appear to be anyone in the driver’s seat, and an older female was running along the driver’s side of the vehicle with the driver’s door opened. Rowe pulled into the parking lot with activated emergency red and blue lights and maneuvered his patrol car to a position where it wouldn’t be struck. He saw the woman fall and after exiting his patrol car realized the woman was being drug by the vehicle. Rowe reached into and applied the brakes to stop the vehicle. The driver’s seat belt was wrapped around the woman’s neck, which was what had been dragging her for approximately 30 feet. Sikeston emergency medical services responded shortly thereafter.

On June 26, 2021, Cpl. Dylan L. DeJournett of Troop E attended his son’s birthday party at the New Madrid Baptist Church on Scott Street in New Madrid, Missouri. During the birthday event, his wife’s aunt choked on a hot dog and began turning blue. Cpl. DeJournett reacted quickly, went to her location, and administered abdominal thrusts to successfully dislodge the food.

On Dec. 2, 2021, Sgt. David B. Haggett, Q/RCOD, and Commercial Vehicle Officer Supervisor I Benjamen L. Towe of Troop E, represented the Patrol at a career event in Malden, Missouri. During their lunch break, Haggett noticed another vendor walking quickly toward their table while pointing to his throat. The man was having difficulty breathing and was gasping for air. Haggett quickly responded to his location. When the man indicated he could not breathe, Sgt. Haggett moved behind the man and administered abdominal thrusts until the airway obstruction became dislodged and was expelled. After a few seconds, the man appeared to be breathing normally and stated he did not need emergency medical services to respond to their location to evaluate him. The gentleman later called Troop E headquarters expressing his gratitude, saying, “If it wasn’t for them, I would not be here today.”

Every year, a civilian of the year is chosen. The 2021 Matilda “Tillie” Sonnen Civilian Of The Year is Criminal Intelligence Analyst Jesse L. McDow, Q/MIAC.

Criminal Intelligence Analyst Jesse L. McDow works in the Criminal Case Support Unit of the Missouri Information Analysis Center. During 2021, Analyst McDow’s analytical abilities assisted law enforcement with numerous investigations. From incidents posted on the MIAC website and other law enforcement bulletins, Analyst McDow helped identify 36 potential suspects using facial recognition software. One 2021 case involved a high-profile child pornography and sex trafficking investigation. Initially, there were two known victims and two known suspects. Analyst McDow’s analysis of the cell phone and social media data gathered from more than 35 search warrants identified 96 potential victims and an additional five potential suspects. This case has become one of the largest cases Missouri’s State Technical Assistance Team has ever investigated. In another case, McDow assisted with linking individuals involved in three homicide cases, weapons discharged at homes, unsolved shootings, numerous firearms incidents, and drive by shootings. His analysis of these shootings linked suspects, witnesses, victims and co-conspirators in a usable association map. The map revealed new paths for the investigation and motives of the suspects. Critically, the map showed two suspects agreeing to meet and travel to Mexico, Missouri, to participate in one of the homicides. While examining the shooting data, Analyst McDow uncovered numerous drug violations, including drug trafficking, that have led to several arrests that otherwise would not have been uncovered. In a forgery case, Analyst McDow located related cases in Troops B, C, D, E, and F His work led to the suspect’s arrest and helped solve crimes associated with the suspect in Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee.

Every year, an officer of the year is chosen. The 2021 Benjamin Oliver Booth Officer Of The Year is Cpl. Evan L. Tyrrell, Q/DDCC.

Since 2016, Tyrrell has served as a part-time forensic investigator in the Digital Forensic Investigative Unit. Throughout 2021, Tyrrell was assigned investigations resulting in suspects being arrested for child pornography. In several of the cases, he used an undercover profile of a supposed 14-year-old to locate these predators. One of these suspects confessed to molesting a 14-year-old child in another state. In one case, Tyrrell contacted the suspect, obtained a confession, and determined that hundreds of child pornography files had been downloaded. An investigation in Cedar County led him to a residence where a woman confessed after speaking with him. A Carter County investigation involved a 15-year-old child, who was sending and receiving pornographic images with other users on social media applications.

When the suspect was questioned, he admitted to molesting his 10-year-old nephew on at least two different occasions. This same investigation led to another suspect who lived in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and worked at a local bank. The suspect was arrested for sending pornographic images of himself to Tyrrell’s undercover persona. On Sept. 7, 2021, Tyrrell assisted the Texas County Sheriff’s Department with a missing 16-year-old girl. Tyrrell’s investigation revealed the 26-year-old suspect and the girl were in the state of California. He contacted the U.S. Marshal’s Service and a short time later, they located the suspect and the missing girl. The missing girl was reunited with her family and the suspect was arrested and later charged with statutory rape and kidnapping. These investigations led to five federal indictments, many of which carry an average sentence of 12 to 15 years in prison.