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Published on January 13, 2025
Wisconsin Conservation Wardens and Staff Honored for Bravery and Lifesaving Acts at State Capitol CeremonySource: Google Street View

At a recent ceremony in the Wisconsin State Capitol, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) honored their own — 16 conservation wardens and a division staffer were celebrated for their bravery and swift actions that have saved lives and demonstrated valor above the call of duty. Governor Tony Evers, alongside other Department of Natural Resources officials, expressed gratitude for the wardens' commitment to public safety and their instrumental roles in creating a safer Wisconsin, as reported by Department of Natural Resources.

Warden Bob Jumbeck and former Warden Alek Henseler each received a Valor Award, the former for his daring rescue of an intoxicated boater and the latter for stopping a violent physical attack upon himself, and still having the wherewithal to administer first aid to his assailant, their deeds reflecting selfless service that often goes unseen. The lifesaving responses ranged from administering CPR and AED to clearing a throat obstruction and removing a large structure off an injured person, the recipients not hesitating when faced with perilous circumstances acting beyond what many would expect in an emergency, their acts perhaps not frequently heralded but certainly fundamental to the fabric of their communities.

During the Lifesaving, Valor & Meritorious Awards Ceremony, held on January 10, the DNR awarded a series of recognitions based on their stringent criteria for valor, lifesaving, and meritorious service, outlined in the Department of Natural Resources press release. Notable among the Lifesaving Awards, Warden Jacob Cross received distinction for his response to vehicle accidents involving fires and live power lines, and Warden Joe McMahon was recognized for his rapid action in concert with local law enforcement to rescue a man from beneath a heavy structure.

The Meritorious Service Award was bestowed upon a group of Department of Natural Resources staff including Jennifer Burrow-Niemeyer, Lt. Andrew Starch, and Marine Wardens Adam Strehlow and Travis Sindles for their deft handling of a high-risk situation involving a capsized boat operated by a person sought for alleged crimes, this recognition emblematic of a commitment to a safer state, one where the guardians of its natural landscapes become, by extension, guardians of its people. According to Gov. Evers, the ceremony was about acknowledging "important work making Wisconsin a safer, healthier and more vibrant place to live for all who call our great state home," though undeniably, the true testament to their valor lays not in awards but in the moments of crisis where they have already answered the call.