Beyond The Badge

Lt Perry has had an amazing career and is also a State Representative. He has distinguished himself countless times with the compassion he brings to the role of a police officer and state trooper. These include going far and beyond in taking care of the needs of crash victims, local efforts in his community, and the ownership he take in looking out for two of the surviving spouses of fallen troopers, who both worked under his command. Lt Perry has taken families with children into his home to give them a safe a warm place to stay following a tragedy they had been involved in. Lt / Representative Perry also worked for years to pass a primary seatbelt law, because he knew it would save lives.See our website for privacy information.

Cottonwood Heights was terrorized by a robber who hit 5 businesses in a two week period. The suspect produced a firearm in each of the robberies and became bolder after each successful attempt. Sergeant Dan Morzelewski (then Detective) used every resource available to identify the suspect but was unsuccessful in in apprehending this person of interest. Morzelewski talked to countless witnesses and combed through several suspects spending nights and weekends watching businesses. On 5/27/17 while off duty at the Dan’s supermarket Dan recognized who he believed to be the suspect and coordinated efforts to apprehend him. Zane James was charged in 3rd District court with all 5 robberies. See our website for privacy information.

Officer Kevin Salmon responded to a call of a theft of a bicycle on Town Circle. Someone had cut the lock to a shed and stole a girls bicycle. The victim, a 12 year old girl who had immigrated here with her family from Russia had won the bike at her school by winning a reading contest. In its place, the thief had left a bucket of human feces. Obviously both the girl and her mother were devastated. On his own volition, Officer Salmon went to Target and purchased the girl a replacement bike with his own money. When he brought it back to the girls house, she was beyond words.  The family was so grateful. See our website for privacy information.

Orem Police Lieutenant Craig Martinez put himself in the hot seat to teach families an important lesson about the dangers of children playing or being left in cars in hot weather. He live streamed his experience sitting in his patrol car in full sun.  The interior temperature went up to 127 degrees.  His heart rate increased by 47 beats per minute (even though he never moved), and and his core temperature went up three degrees. It was a startling demonstration of how quickly things can get very dangerous for unattended children in hot cars. Parents sometimes forget small children in the car.  Have something in your car to remind you to check for kids.See our website for privacy information.

The following letter was written by Heather Walker, a citizen of Davis County: "I encountered a hero today. Sheriff Todd Richardson of Davis County came to Lily and my rescue today. Heading southbound on I-15 approaching Farmington my back left tire went flat. Fortunately, I could feel a pull and heard it and was able to pull over, but we were stuck on the left side of the road with minimal space between us and the other cars going 75+ past us. I called road side assistance and my husband and then just sat there frozen in the car with my 9-year old who we were trying to get her to her dance competition in Magna. I really was terrified to get out and just kept an eye in my rear view mirror keeping tabs on approaching cars that they weren't drifting over. Maternal instincts set in to keep Lily safe. Major relief came when I saw an unmarked police car heading the other way, mind you, pull into the emergency turn around and back up to our car. He was the most compassionate person and a true hero at that moment. N

On Wednesday, March 8th, AP&P Agent Marc Miller went above and beyond in attempting to help one of his probationer. Marc had received a call from the family of one of his probationers, Bobby Orris. Bobby's family was concerned for his welfare as they had not heard from him for a few days. Agent Miller, along with Agent Seth Peterson spent considerable time driving around Ogden attempting to locate Bobby. Eventually, they went back to the Bobby’s reported address. When Agent Miller and Peterson arrived they received no response at the front or back door of the home and could smell a strong odor of natural gas near the door. As they were returning to their car to call for assistance, the house suddenly exploded sending the roof into the air and back down in the location they had been standing just a few minutes prior. The home immediately erupted into flames. Agent Miller kicked in the front door and entered the home in an attempt to rescue anyone inside. Agent Miller was eventually forced to back out of the ho

The following nomination comes from Jean North, a citizen of Heber City: Detective Tammy Thacker has devoted her career to helping make her community a safe, exceptional place for the children of our community to grow up in. She is the strongest advocate for the children in the Heber Valley. When Detective Thacker is involved with Children in the community they find a friend in her. She goes above and beyond what is required of her. The children respect and look up to her and are willing to work hand in hand to help better their situation. When she sees a need she is usually the first one to act upon it. An example is a family living in devastating circumstances and in need of help for Christmas. Officer Thacker shared their plea with others in the community and through many long hours and hard work was able to make their home a safe home and more comfortable to live in. She purchased a Christmas tree and gifts from her own pocket so the children in the family would have a Christmas. Her comment when she fini

A woman was traveling through Green River in Emery County when she found herself in a difficult position. Her husband was a US Marine killed in action and she was all alone. She had travelled for a job opportunity that didn't pan out and thankfully it was Deputy Kay Jensen who found her. When the woman explained she had no food or money, Deputy Jensen opened his wallet and gave the woman all the cash he had. He didn't even hesitate. The woman began to cry stating she couldn’t take the money; Deputy Jensen put the money in the backpack the woman was carrying and told her to get something to eat and to think of only good things. Deputy Jensen then arranged for her to get to an airport so she could return to her family. This story was relayed to the Emery County Sheriff by a citizen witness. Had that witness stayed quiet, we would never have known this story because Deputy Jensen didn't tell anyone what he'd done. He's a humble man who serves the people of Emery County.See our website for privacy information.

Officer Jeremy Barnes was on vacation in Montana with his wife when they witnessed a robbery at a pharmacy. She alerted him to the robbery, asking if he had his gun.  He didn't, but went in anyway. He interrupted an armed robbery and retreated when a gun was pointed at him.  He retreated and hid and as the gunman attempted to leave, Officer Barnes ambushed him.  The gun went off during the struggle, but Jeremy was able to seize it and hold the robber at gunpoint until police arrived. Officer Barnes is a veteran of the Draper City Police Department and currently works teaching other officers at the Utah Department of Public Safety.See our website for privacy information.

In February of 2017, Officer Ottesen responded to a local clinic for a welfare check. The clinic reported that a 19 year old female had wandered into the clinic and was hanging out in the lobby. She was not properly dressed for the cold weather and had nowhere to go. When Officer Ottesen arrived he learned the woman was homeless, and had some developmental disabilities.  She had been living with her mother but they were kicked out of their apartment and her mother was now in a nursing home. The woman could not stay with her mother at the nursing home and family that she had in the area would not take her in. Officer Ottesen called local resources to see if he could find her a place to stay but had no success. The temperatures were low and instead of leaving her on her own to roam from place to place looking for shelter, Officer Otteson paid for a two night stay at a local hotel with his own money.  He also provided her with phone numbers to resources that could possibly assist her. Officer Ottesen went above

Officer Rulon Green at Draper Park Middle School is known for his fantastic sense of humor and his carefree, calm attitude with the students. The students know he is someone they can trust and someone who is always willing to give them a friendly smile in the hallway. He will often get on the speaker system during lunch, sharing jokes with the middle school students.  Officer Green also has a pet pot belly pig. He sometimes brings the pig to school which is definitely an entertaining moment for the students. Officer Green is a positive role model for students throughout Draper. Besides his service at Draper Park Middle School, Detective Green serves the Draper Community through DARE classes at all elementary schools in Draper (public, charter, private), and as head of Draper City Peer Court. See our website for privacy information.

This past year, Garland Utah saw some very serious flooding.  During that critical time, Officer Peter Gilchrist of the Garland Police Department was an example of what it means to serve as well as protect. Officer Gilchrist and the other officers had put in long hours with road closures and helping the community while on the clock. Even with little sleep, Officer Gilchrist also was volunteering on his day off and was seen on the sandbagging lines in plain clothes to help out his neighbors in their hours of need. Officer Gilchrist has also been spotted tutoring kids at the local elementary school to help them improve their reading skills. See our website for privacy information.

Officer Patterson uses his experience as a hunter and his influence as a Utah Conservation Officer to lift the spirits of those who have struggled with physical or emotional difficulties in their lives. In the past he has lifted the spirits of physically challenged individuals by helping them enjoy the outdoors and hunting. This year Gabe focused his attention on the son of a fallen Officer.  Officer Doug Barney was killed in the line of duty on January 17, 2016. Officer Barney left behind his family including his son Jack. After hearing Jack was interested in hunting, Officer Patterson made arrangements with his contacts at the Johnson Mountain Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) who then graciously donated a bull elk tag for Jack. Gabe also reached out to the Mule Deer Foundation who donated a rifle to Jack. Officer Patterson also followed through and helped with Jack’s hunt to make sure he took his elk. Officer Gabe Patterson’s relationship with the hunting public and sportsmen’s groups is an asset

Deputy Zach Minor works with high risk individuals on Intensive Supervision Probation (ISP).  Deputy Minor was nominated to Beyond The Badge by a man who is under Deputy Minor's supervision.   Here is a portion of that nomination letter: "Zach has worked with me along with other high risk clients in the ISP program since it started sometime last year. I have been on ISP (Intensive Supervision Probation) for over a year now, and am at the very end as I am graduating in a month or so.   Zach has gone VERY far beyond what is asked of him to make sure that I was a success and he does this with all of his clients. We have overcome things together that I never thought possible. When I met Zach, I was very lost in life and constantly in new trouble, in and out of jail. I had a SERIOUS heroin habit among other issues. Because of Zach, I am now over a year clean, and have changed my behaviors around, I now hold a good job, go to treatment only a few hours a week and my son has a father. Zach has gone so far beyond wha

Ranger Jeff Arbon is a Utah State Park Ranger for the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation. In July 2016 in the heat of the summer Jeff was finishing a shift and heard on the dispatch radio of a distressed mountain biker on the Poison Spider Mesa trail. There was a call for a helicopter rescue but dispatch needed on the ground verification by either SAR personnel or law enforcement. Jeff knows the terrain very well so he returned to work, loaded his motorcycle and headed to the trail head. Jeff found the distressed mountain biker about 6 to 7 miles into the backcountry in the late stages of heat stroke. Jeff confirmed with dispatch the need for a helicopter rescue and as a trained First Responder Jeff doused the biker with water and monitored him closely. With the helicopter in sight the mountain biker stopped breathing and lost a pulse. Jeff immediately began performing CPR and was quickly helped by the medical personnel from the helicopter crew.  After about 20 minutes of performing ALS on the distressed m

When Officer Steve Linton became a School Resource Officer (SRO), he made it his job to get to know students, not just by name, but also by what they do, what their interests are, who they hang around with, and what issues they might have.   As Officer Linton became more and more knowledgeable of the students, he recognized an opportunity. He approached the leadership of Desert Hills High School with the idea of teaching an Introduction to Law Enforcement class. Students who have taken it have loved working with Officer Linton and getting to know a totally different side of what a police office does. At Desert Hills High School, Officer Linton also mentors at risk students.  He keeps in close contact with them, helping them navigate school, and advocating for them.  He has been influential in helping a lot of students graduate.See our website for privacy information.

Officer Justin Stanford is the Kaysville Police Departments DARE Officer and has been teaching the DARE program since the beginning of the 2016‐ 2017 school year. During the short time Officer Stanford has been teaching DARE, he has done an outstanding job connecting and bonding with the students.  Officer Stanford feels it is very important support students. He takes time to interact with the children by attending various school functions, such as school plays, fun runs, and other school events. Officer Stanford has taken time off duty to attend sporting events and other events that his DARE students are involved in to show his support. By attending these activities Officer Stanford shows the students that he really cares about each of them. Officer Stanford recently travelled to Italy with his church youth group. While there, Officer Stanford along with others, learned an Italian dance while interacting with the people of Italy. Officer Stanford has taken the time to teach the dance to the students that he

Officer Matt Schuman has been a police officer in St. George, Utah, for ten years. He is currently assigned to Dixie Middle School, where his quick intervention saved a student's life. The student arrived at the front office to call her parents.  She wasn't feeling well.  Officer Schuman caught the student as she collapsed, went into a seizure, and stopped breathing. Matt was able to revive her using CPR.  Within moments, the student went into cardiac arrest.  He continued CPR until medics arrived to Life Flight the student to a hospital in Las Vegas. That same day, Officer Schuman was returning home from the school when he heard a dispatch call about an infant choking.  Despite being on his way home, Matt diverted to the call and saved the child's life. Twice in one day.  What a phenomenal man and a real credit to the St. George Police Department and community.  See our website for privacy information.

Even as boy, Dusty Butler wanted to be a police officer.  Now he's a twenty year veteran in Emery County and is in charge of the Emery County Jail. For him, police work is service.  In the jail, he's around troubled people all the time, but he's in a position to help them.  It's rewarding to watch people leave jail and start a new life in a better direction. The jail is not the only place Butler is able to change lives and help people get a new start. One day, Sergeant Butler came across a man living out of his car.  Using social media, Butler was able to secure a trailer and furnishings for the homeless man.  He was able to mobilize the community to solve a problem that many others would have ignored.  See our website for privacy information.

Detective Javier Chavez is a 12 year veteran of Salt Lake County and works in the Midvale Precinct of Unified Police department.  At UPD, Detective Chavez has taken on a challenging assignment, The Road Home Shelter in Midvale. Detective Chavez has worked hard to build relationships with the shelter, shelter residents, and local businesses and residents. These relationships have helped Detective Chavez in his police work as he has been able to solve numerous crimes in the shelter and surrounding area. Chavez focuses a lot on helping people have positive experiences with the police.  He tries to be very helpful in teaching people about the law and police work.  He has even assisted Road Home residents resolve warrants and other matters so they can get a fresh start.   The NAACP recently honored Detective Chavez with an award for his great work   See our website for privacy information.