West County Police Officer, Firefighter Receive Medal of Valor

Six public safety officers from St. Louis will receive the Medal of Valor from Gov. Jay Nixon Wednesday, according to a news release.

(Check out more photos on Flickr here courtesy of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.)

The release from the governor's office said a total of nine public safety officers from across the state will be awarded the Missouri Medal of Valor for their "extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism in efforts to save the lives of Missourians during 2012." 

Manchester Police Officer Gerad Gonzalez and West County EMS and Fire Protection District Firefighter and Paramedic Kevin Bacon.

As previously reported by Patch, Gonzalez, a law enforcement veteran, rescued an unconscious man from a burning SUV after a fiery crash. He was later recognized by the Manchester Police Department for his bravery.

According to the West County EMS and Fire Protection District, Bacon is being recognized for single-handedly pulling a burning car off of a man trapped underneath it. Bacon was also later recognized by the St. Louis County Fire Chiefs Association, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Others receiving the Medal of Valor Wednesday include Angela N. Hawkins and Michael W. Betz, of the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department; Thomas M. Kenyon, of the O’Fallon Police Department; Michael W. Vernon, of the Florissant Police Department, David W. Crank, of the Missouri State Highway Patrol – Troop E (Poplar Bluff), Jared W. Debrecht, of the Iron County Sheriff’s Department; and Robert D. Bratcher, of the Liberty Police Department.