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2024 Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor Recipients
From left to right: Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk, Governor Kim Reynolds, Officer Code Wurzer, Officer Gage Voshell, Officer William Ward, Kelly Sullivan, DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens
On December 11, 2024, three officers with the Oelwein Police Department received the Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor:
- Officer Gage Voshell
- Officer William Ward
- Officer Codi Wurzer
Narrative
In the late evening hours of February 17, 2024, a fire erupted on the fourth floor of the historic Mealey Hotel Apartments in downtown Oelwein. Immediately after being notified of the fire, first responders from around the area rushed to the scene with Oelwein Police Officers Codi Wurzer, Will Ward, and Gage Voshell being the first to arrive.
Once there, the officers quickly assessed the situation and detected smoke emanating from the fourth floor. The officers immediately began a systematic, door-to-door evacuation of the residents. As they progressed to the fourth-floor hallway, heavy smoke stung their eyes, obstructed their view, and labored their breathing. Despite the conditions and without protective equipment, the officers pressed forward and eventually encountered a particularly smoke-filled apartment. From the doorway, the officers called out to any occupants inside and over the din heard the faintest of responses.
Officer Wurzer immediately dropped to the floor and crawled inside the apartment. Despite being blinded by smoke, Officer Wurzer located a distressed and disoriented man inside. While crouched on the floor, Officer Wurzer pulled the man off a nearby couch and then called to his fellow officers for help. Officers Ward and Voshell quickly pushed through the throat-choking haze and together they drug the man from the apartment, down the hallway, and into a nearby stairwell.
Meanwhile, firefighters from throughout the area quickly descended on the scene and were able to confine the fire to that single, fourth-floor apartment. The apartment’s occupant was quickly whisked away via ambulance and treated at a nearby hospital. Meanwhile, the three officers were treated for smoke inhalation.
These three officers showed exceptional courage and judgment, knowing that immediate action was necessary. They disregarded their own safety by plunging inside a smoke-billowing apartment without the benefit of safety equipment and saved a life.
In recognition of their bravery and commitment to duty, Officers Codi Wurzer, Will Ward, and Gage Voshell have been selected to receive the Sullivan Brothers' Award of Valor. Their heroic actions exemplify the very essence of this award and showcased a level of dedication and selflessness that went well beyond the normal demands of their duties.
Back to top2024 Governor's Lifesaving Award Recipients
On December 11, 2024, four Iowans were recognized for their lifesaving efforts:
- Randy Hartley of Adel, Iowa
- Tyler Borneman of Waterloo, Iowa
- Evan Scheck of Spirit Lake, Iowa
- Joseph Salmon of Spencer, Iowa
Randy Hartley Narrative - Outstanding Service Award
From left to right: Governor Kim Reynolds, Randy Hartley, DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens, Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk
On October 27, 2023, Randy Hartley of Adel was working what he presumed would be a typical day at the Veterans Reception Center in Van Meter, when he observed a co-worker pull into the parking lot and cry out for help. Randy rushed to her car and she told him something was seriously wrong. Randy looked into her eyes, saw they were severely dilated, and immediately called 911.
While waiting for emergency services to arrive, Randy stayed by her side, ensuring she remained conscious, comfortable, and upright. When rescue personnel reached the scene, Randy provided them with crucial information, including his suspicion that she may be suffering from a brain bleed.
The employee was rushed to a local hospital and later to the University of Iowa for specialized care, where doctors confirmed she had suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Throughout her hospitalization and recovery, Randy kept in touch and offered his continued support.
Neurologists later confirmed that without Randy’s quick response and decisive action, his co-worker’s prognosis would have been dim. His swift thinking and genuine concern for another exemplify the type of character this award honors.
Tyler Borneman Narrative - Lifesaving Award
From left to right: Governor Kim Reynolds, Tyler Borneman, DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens, Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk
On January 2, 2024, a girls’ basketball practice during winter break at Waterloo West High School quickly morphed into crisis when their head coach decided to take a quick break after not feeling well. The coach, having excused himself from practice, stepped into a nearby hallway and quickly collapsed. Two minutes later, the players discovered their fallen coach while taking a water break and immediately called out to the coaching staff for help.
The coaching staff attended to their fallen friend but struggled to keep focus as they battled their natural emotions. It was then that Tyler Borneman, a volunteer coach, took charge and began performing CPR with precision … alternating between compressions and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. For the next three to four minutes, Tyler continued his efforts in earnest until Waterloo Emergency Services arrived. EMS then took over the coach’s care and finally managed to restore the faintest hint of a pulse. Medical professionals later acknowledged that Tyler's actions had a significant impact in his colleague surviving what otherwise would have been a near certain fatal event.
Evan Scheck Narrative - Lifesaving with Valor Award
From left to right: Governor Kim Reynolds, Evan Scheck, DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens, Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk
On May 9, 2024, Evan Scheck of Spirit Lake was coaching the Spencer High School girls' tennis team when players reported hearing screams nearby. Bystanders quickly discovered that two 12-year-old boys had been swept away while trying to cross a bike path flooded by the Little Sioux River. One boy was standing in the rushing waters while another was clinging to a power pole along the river’s swollen banks.
Without hesitation, Evan entered the swift waters, thinking to himself, “If not me, then who?” After reaching them, Evan found both boys were clearly in shock with one constantly muttering that he did not want to die. Evan was able to successfully guide the closer of the two boys to safety. Despite the protests from his fellow coach and players, Evan then re-entered the deep, swift-moving water in an effort to help the second boy. He soon realized, however, the water was too deep and the current too strong to safely navigate back to shore, so he stayed with the second boy, keeping him calm and secure until help arrived.
Once on scene, first responders threw Evan a flotation device. Evan was able to secure both he and the boy to the device and together, they were pulled to safety.
Joseph Salmon Narrative - Lifesaving with Valor Award
Governor Kim Reynolds, Joseph Salmon, DPS Commissioner Stephan Bayens, Iowa State Patrol Colonel Nathan Fulk
On February 4, 2023, seventeen-year-old Joseph Salmon was ice fishing with his mother on East Okoboji Lake when he witnessed a Jeep plunge through the ice and slide into the lake’s icy waters. Without hesitation, Joseph sprang to action.
As he rushed to the scene, Joseph overheard a bystander exclaim that it looked as though a child was inside the partially submerged car. With remarkable bravery, Joseph stripped away his outer layer of clothing and entered the freezing waters.
Once at the submerged vehicle, Joseph quickly found the doors were locked. Undeterred, Joseph immediately shattered the back window with a knife, thus enabling his entry into the Jeep. Once inside, he found that what the bystander had thought was a child, was actually the driver’s dog. Joseph quickly freed the dog and then returned for the 83-year-old driver.
Joseph saw the man was trapped with his foot wedged between the center console and the seat and that he appeared to be suffering from shock. Joseph quickly repositioned himself so he could free the man’s leg and then attempted to guide him out through the narrow opening between the seat and roof. Realizing the gap was too tight, Joseph went back inside the vehicle, adjusted the seat, and was able to gain just enough space to pull the driver out by his shoulders. Because of Joseph’s actions, both the driver and his dog emerged from that harrowing event relatively unscathed.
For his remarkable courage and unwavering resolve in the face of danger, Joseph Salmon is receiving the Lifesaving Award with Valor. Joseph was unable to attend last year’s ceremony due to a hunting accident that kept him hospitalized for an extended period of time, so we are grateful to be able to honor him today. His selfless actions on that cold winter day embody a spirit of heroism that is truly remarkable.
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