‘Doing what’s right’

Millwood Lake rescuers are among honored wildlife officers

LITTLE ROCK—Among 20 wildlife officers honored for their dedicated service to the natural resources and people of Arkansas recently were Southwest Arkansas officers who rescued residents from Millwood Lake.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission honored the wildlife officers recently during its fifth annual Enforcement Awards Banquet in Little Rock. The banquet recognizes officers from across the state who have gone above and beyond the call of duty during the previous year.

Wildlife Officers Sydney Grant and Cody Standifer from the AGFC Hope Regional Office received the Warden’s Star, given for an act of heroism involving an unusual situation that required immediate action and the use of good judgment, ingenuity and exceptional tactics to prevent an incident from escalating.

Grant and Standifer were the first on the scene at Millwood Lake on Nov. 18, 2017, when winds up to 70 miles per hour and a temperature shift of nearly 40 degrees caused extreme conditions during the opening day of waterfowl season. Millwood Lake is about 9 miles east of Ashdown, Ark.

Many avid duck hunters attempted to launch on the lake that morning, despite life-threatening conditions.

Grant and Standifer responded in their boat to a report of a boating accident on the lake. Once they arrived, they were unable to find any victims.

The wind and waves threatened to disable their boat, so they were forced to make their way to the nearest ramp. There they heard and saw someone clinging to a stump 600 yards from the bank. They and fellow officer Cpl. Keith Teague jumped back in the boat and pulled the victim from the water. Because of their attention and quick action, the victim escaped the deadly situation with only stiff legs from the cold water.

Other officers receiving Certificates of Commendation include the following:

Sgt. John Partain, Sgt. Ronnie White, Cpl. Jeff Neel, Cpl. Dennis Hovarter, Cpl. Blake Broomfield, Cpl. Keith Teague and Wildlife Officer Andrew Watson from the Hope Regional Office were recognized for their combined efforts in extremely high winds on Millwood Lake to rescue eight people in three separate boating accidents on the water in one day.

Capt. Chris Carpenter and Wildlife Officer Bradley Huggins from AGFC’s Hot Springs Regional Office were honored for finding and consoling an individual on the brink of suicide and getting him to a medical facility to receive the help he needed.

Lt. Mike Nast and Wildlife Officer Dusty Kirkpatrick from the Mayflower Office were lauded for the cold-water rescue of two commercial anglers from the Arkansas

River.

Sgt. Jeremy Whiley, Sgt. Steve Paul, Wildlife Officer Adam Baker and Wildlife Officer Tyler Webb from the Hot Springs office were praised for the rescue of 15 people and four pets by boat from a condominium fire on Lake Hamilton.

Cpl. Jay Hagans and Wildlife Officer Brian Tatum from the Calico Rock Regional Office were recognized for the swift-water rescue of two kayakers stranded on the Archey Fork of the Little Red River during heavy current and high rain.

AGFC Director Pat Fitts spoke to all in attendance about the sense of pride that comes with leading such a fantastic group.

“Most of the men and women honored here today will tell you, ‘I was just doing my job’ for the actions that brought these awards, but I think it’s important for us as an agency to recognize them for going above and beyond,” Fitts said.

Commission Chairman Steve Cook, who previously had a short career in law enforcement, also spoke at the ceremony, commending all officers on their professionalism in the face of adversity.

“You have to deal with a lot out there every day, the good and the bad,” Cook said. “Sometimes they’re your friends, and sometimes they’re not so friendly. And you continually soar to a higher level. That’s the integrity of a great organization— doing what’s right.”