In a recent assembly at the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Headquarters in Austin, the DPS along with the Public Safety Commission (PSC) paid tribute to several Texans for their bravery and service. Colonel Freeman F. Martin shared the stage with PSC Commissioners to present prestigious awards at the first PSC meeting of 2025, as mentioned in an article by the DPS.
Among the awardees were two recipients of the William P. Clements Excellence Awards, given for consistently outstanding performance. Michael Millan from the Information Technology Division and retired Texas Ranger Michael Adcock were both recognized for their distinguished services. According to DPS, Michael Adcock notably contributed to multiple high-profile cases, displaying a steadfast commitment to his work. Similarly, Millan was praised for his pivotal role in troubleshooting major operational outages, including providing an effective solution for the CrowdStrike incident, and routinely steps up during times of transition.
The Director's Citations went to Trooper Joshua Perkins and Trooper Justin Reese. Perkins was commended for exceptional skills in criminal interdiction and the significant confiscation of narcotics, while Reese was honored for his brave intervention in a family violence assault, where he prevented harm to a child, the DPS detailed. Trooper Perkins notably utilized his skills in the analysis of license plate reader (LPR) systems to assist in identifying a murder suspect in collaboration with the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office.
Additionally, an act of civilian heroism by Mr. John Kerr was spotlighted with a Director's Award when he intervened to help Trooper Nathaniel Gutierrez during an assault by a wrong-way driver. Kerr's decisive actions reportedly prevented the trooper from potentially "sustaining significant injuries or being struck by a passing motorist," DPS said in the statement. A Lifesaving Award also went to Trooper Taylor Buster who rescued a subject trapped in a house fire, demonstrating his readiness to quickly respond to a "life-threatening situation."
Other Lifesaving Awards were presented to officers and civilians alike who placed themselves in dangerous situations to save lives. Trooper George Greenway IV, Sergeant Andrew Mitchell, and Trooper Arthur Mitchell all received this honor for their acts of valor, which included rescues during hazardous conditions and emergency medical interventions. DPS detailed that these individuals acted with significant urgency and effectiveness, making pivotal decisions that resulted in lives being saved. In another instance, the coordinated effort of Special Agents John Vincent, Ross Rigby, Trey Frost, and San Antonio Police Detective Janellen Valle earned recognition for a collective rescue of a suicidal subject.
These recognitions serve as reminders of the often unseen acts of service by law enforcement and civilians in Texas. As outlined by the DPS, each awardee has contributed to the safety and security of their fellow Texans through acts of valor, skilled intervention, and compassionate response to critical incidents.
