Missouri Governor Mike Parson awarded several St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Officers with the Medal of Valor on September 12, 2024, for their heroic acts and tremendous bravery.
The Medal of Valor is Missouri’s highest award recognizing public safety officers who exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.
“Every day, the men and women of SLMPD run toward danger, without hesitation, to save lives,” said St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Tracy. “I am honored that the State of Missouri and Governor Parson would honor five of our officers, who were injured but showed incredible bravery, in two different incidents.”
Sean Miskovic and Lucas Roethlisberger, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department – On the night of February 2, 2023, Officers Miskovic and Roethlisberger were on patrol in a marked vehicle in the Soulard neighborhood when they spotted a pickup truck with no license plates. It matched the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with a robbery two days earlier. The officers radioed their location as they began following the vehicle and waiting for an assist from other officers. Once notified another patrol vehicle was in the area, Officers Miskovic and Roethlisberger activated their lights and siren. The suspect vehicle then led the officers through the Soulard neighborhood and crashed into a courtyard; its airbags deployed. As Officer Miskovic approached the suspect vehicle, the driver exited with a handgun and began firing at Officers Miskovic and Roethlisberger. Officer Miskovic took cover behind a tree and fired a round from his handgun, which then jammed. As Officer Miskovic attempted to clear his gun, Officer Roethlisberger fired at the suspect and took cover. Officer Miskovic, with a new magazine, fired another round but his gun jammed again. When the gunman took off on foot, both Miskovic and Roethlisberger pursued him despite having been shot. The suspect had been struck by a bullet in his right leg. The suspect discarded his gun as he ran, and Officer Roethlisberger captured him. Arriving officers drove Miskovic to Barnes Hospital and Roethlisberger to St. Louis University Hospital. Roethlisberger was treated for a gunshot wound to his right torso and released. He insisted on being transported to Barnes Hospital to be by the side of his partner, Officer Miskovic, who was being treated for gunshot wounds to his right torso and right arm. Officer Miskovic was treated and released the following day. The gunman was a convicted felon, in possession of a large quantity of suspected narcotics in the stolen vehicle. In addition to being shot, the officers’ police vehicle was struck by at least 13 rounds. Under heavy fire, and despite both being wounded, Officers Miskovic and Roethlisberger acted with tremendous bravery, removing a dangerous felon from the streets of St. Louis. Sean Miskovic is now an officer with the Olivette Police Department.
Alfred Allmon Jr., Nicholas Jones, William Stevenson, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department – On the afternoon of April 28, 2023, Officers Jones and Stevenson responded to an apartment building in the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, where relatives requested assistance with a man in mental health crisis. At the apartment, they located the subject on a bathroom floor. EMS was called and responded. Officers Jones and Stevenson and a crisis response unit clinician attempted to talk with the man. Jones and Stevenson then attempted to lift the man from the floor, when he pulled a concealed pistol and fired two shots, striking Officer Stevenson in the right shoulder. The porcelain toilet was broken into several sharp pieces during the violent struggle as the officers worked to get the gun away from the subject, bring him under control, and protect their fellow officers. Officer Jones received a head injury in the struggle, and Officer Allmon, who had responded to an Officers in need of aid call, suffered a large laceration to his left arm. Officers Stevenson and Allmon were transported to Barnes Hospital. Officer Stevenson was treated for four puncture wounds to his right shoulder and released. Officer Allmon received stitches for the laceration to his arm. Officer Jones refused treatment at the scene. The gunman was treated for a self-inflicted gunshot wound to his right hand and underwent a psychiatric evaluation. Despite being injured, the three officers worked together to control a violent gunman and never fired a shot despite the danger he posed.
