DES MOINES — Five Iowa heroes will be honored at the annual Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor Ceremony, hosted by the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 20 at the State Capitol Rotunda.
The Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor is awarded to peace officers and firefighters who distinguish themselves by performing heroic acts in excess of normal demands of police or fire service even when fully aware of the threat to their personal safety.
Five valorous individuals will be honored at this years ceremony, including four firefighters from the Marion Fire Department and one Iowa State Patrol trooper.
Marion Fire Department members Jeff Hoover, Peter Lammer, Jeremy Smith and Zachary Bruce saved a man’s life on the morning of Dec. 8, 2016, when a call came in to the Marion Fire Department for a “semi rollover.” Firetrucks and an ambulance were dispatched to the scene, where a semi-tractor trailer cab was found almost completely submerged under water, with the driver’s side completely underwater.
Witnesses on scene said they had not seen anyone exit the semi. These four firefighters, Hoover, Lammer, Smith and Bruce, will be honored for their heroic actions performed during this vehicle crash.
Iowa State patrol Trooper Dustin Henningsen was working in the Bettendorf area Feb. 28, 2017, and came upon a vehicle that was on fire in a roadside ditch. Trooper Henningsen entered the burning vehicle and rescued the trapped driver, an heroic action performed during a very dangerous situation that has earned him honor.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and DPS Commissioner Roxann Ryan will honor the five men for their heroic efforts in saving the lives of Iowans during critical times of need.
