North Alabama officers among 6 honored by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for courageous actions

MONTGOMERY — An Alabama Marine Patrol officer who saved boaters near Wheeler Dam has been recognized by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency for his actions.

He was among a group of six other ALEA officers honored for their courageous actions that helped to save the lives of fellow citizens in distress.

At the organization’s Lifesaving Awards in Montgomery this week, ALEA Col. Jonathan Archer praised the actions of the troopers who risked their lives to rescue others. The event was specifically focused on the impact of their training, preparedness, and heroism.

From the Northern District of ALEA’s Marine Patrol Division, Senior Trooper Chad Dyer  received a  Lifesaving Award for his exceptional bravery.

Responding to an emergency call Oct. 12 near the  Wheeler Dam on Wilson Lake in Lauderdale County, Dyer faced a perilous situation when a fishing boat overturned due to a failed trolling motor, drawing the vessel into the dam’s generators.

With unwavering determination, Dyer conducted a thorough search that ultimately led to the trapped victims below the dam. His critical decision to contact the Tennessee Valley Authority to halt hydroelectric generation was crucial in mitigating risks to both the victims and himself.

Senior Trooper Jordan Seahorn, who is assigned to ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division’s Sheffield Post, received a Certificate of Commendation along with his Lifesaving Award for his extraordinary investigative efforts during a traffic stop.

On Oct. 16, at approximately 11 a.m., Seahorn conducted a traffic stop with his K-9 partner Bella on Interstate 22, near mile marker 4 in Marion County. Upon further investigation, approximately six ounces of marijuana packaged for sale, a package of mushrooms, two loaded semi-automatic Glock pistols with extended magazines, and approximately $12,000 in cash were discovered.

One of the passengers had the pistols concealed in the floorboard area at his feet and was found to be a convicted felon and a certain person forbidden to possess a pistol. All four occupants of the vehicle were from Memphis  and were placed under arrest.

Other officers honored were:

• Recruiting Coordinator and Public Affairs Officer, Senior Trooper Joshua Thompson was off-duty Sept. 1 and traveling in his personal vehicle in Milton, Fla., when he saw a vehicle veer off the road and crash into a tree. The driver had suffered a medical emergency and was found unresponsive and without a pulse. Thompson coordinated with a Santa Rosa County sheriff’s deputy to remove the driver from the vehicle and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Thompson delivered a shock with the AED and initiated CPR, performing chest compressions until Emergency Medical Services arrived.
• Senior Troopers Jacob Manning and Kenny Wade were awarded for responding to a distress call Oct. 16 regarding a capsized vessel in Perdido Bay in Baldwin County. The two officers responded to rescue four individuals, two adults and two children, who were in the water and showing signs of hypothermia. 
• Senior Trooper Chad Wynn was recognized for responding to a vessel in distress June 7. Despite the gravity of the situation, with only one individual wearing a life jacket, Wynn rescued all three individuals.