INDIANAPOLIS – On Wednesday, a ceremony was held in Indianapolis to recognize Indiana State Police employees for various awards earned during the past year. Among the dozens of award recipients, Superintendent Doug Carter presented awards to five Indianapolis District Troopers.
Master Trooper Justin Hobbs: Lifesaving Award
On August 12, 2022, at 0900 hours, while conducting a transportation detail, Master Trooper Justin Hobbs came upon a single-car crash involving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am on I-70 westbound at the 78.8-mile marker. The vehicle had collided with a concrete median barrier wall and had become disabled partially in the left lane blocking traffic. As Master Trooper Hobbs approached the scene two witnesses told him that the female driver of the Pontiac appeared lifeless and was turning blue.
Master Trooper Hobbs retrieved his AED and Narcan and approached the victim’s vehicle. The female was unresponsive and showed no signs of life. With the assistance of the two witnesses, they pulled the woman out of the vehicle and onto the pavement.
Suspecting an opiate overdose as the cause for her condition, Master Trooper Hobbs immediately administered Narcan which the female exhibited a slight response to. Upon applying the AED to the victim, it advised no shock, but to begin chest compressions. Master Trooper Hobbs completed three cycles of chest compressions before Indianapolis Fire Department arrived on the scene and took over medical care. The female victim was able to fully recover at a local hospital.
Master Trooper Hobbs is to be commended for his extraordinary conduct in saving the life of a fellow human being
Trooper Lim Chol: Lifesaving Award
On September 20, 2022, at approximately 5:32 p.m., Trooper Lim Chol located a vehicle in Indianapolis, that had been reported stolen. Trooper Chol initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle by activating his emergency lights. The vehicle, driven by a 14-year-old, fled from Trooper Chol and a pursuit ensued.
Trooper Chol pursued the vehicle with his emergency lights and sirens activated as the vehicle turned north on Pleasant Run Parkway from eastbound 10th Street. As the driver made the left turn the vehicle struck the guardrail on the left side of Pleasant Run Parkway before swerving and striking a utility pole and rolling over onto its top.
The juvenile refused to exit the vehicle as the engine compartment caught fire. Trooper Chol immediately requested emergency personnel respond to the scene and carefully approached the vehicle. As the vehicle was on fire, Trooper Chol broke the windshield glass of the vehicle to extract the juvenile. The juvenile was apparently unaware that the car was on fire as Trooper Chol worked to extract him from the vehicle. Trooper Isaiah Henderson arrived on the scene and assisted Trooper Chol with getting the juvenile out of the car. Trooper Chol received cuts on both of his hands due to his attempts of extracting the juvenile through broken glass and received stitches.
Trooper Chol is to be commended for his extraordinary conduct in saving the life of a fellow human being.
Trooper Hunter McCord and Trooper Aaron Smith: Lifesaving Award
On October 22, 2022, at approximately 12:59 a.m., Indianapolis Dispatch received a call of a subject shot on the exit ramp to Emerson Avenue of I-70 eastbound. Troopers Aaron Smith and Hunter McCord responded to the call. Trooper Smith arrived first and checked the gunshot victim who was sitting in the front seat of her vehicle with blood leaking from the driver’s door. Trooper Smith learned that the victim had been shot in the left hip area.
Trooper McCord arrived soon after and quickly grabbed her first aid kit from her car and ran up to give Trooper Smith medical supplies. Trooper Smith advised Trooper McCord that they needed to pull the female out of her vehicle to begin rendering aid because the gunshot wound was too high up on the left leg to apply a tourniquet. Trooper Smith packed the wound with gauze and begin applying pressure for the wound to stop bleeding.
Trooper McCord cut the victim’s pants and began to scan for an exit wound and for any other injuries. Medical personnel arrived on the scene, took over medical care, and transported to a local hospital. The female victim was able to survive the gunshot wound.
Trooper McCord and Trooper Aaron Smith are to be commended for their extraordinary conduct in saving the life of a fellow human being.
Trooper Aaron Smith: Lifesaving Award (second award)
On November 16, 2022, at approximately 2:31 a.m., Trooper Aaron Smith was patrolling the area of West Street and Washington Street in Indianapolis, when he observed a
vehicle disregard the red light for Washington Street, westbound, at West Street and he initiated a traffic stop.
Upon approaching the vehicle, the driver quickly exited and advised Trooper Smith that he had been shot. Trooper Smith returned to his commission to retrieve his First Aid Kit.
Trooper Smith observed that the victim had been shot in the upper left arm and left hand. Trooper Smith immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim’s left arm and the bleeding stopped. Medics arrived and soon took over life-saving measures. The victim survived the injuries.
Trooper Smith is to be commended for his extraordinary conduct in saving the life of a fellow human being.
Trooper Christian Beltran: Top Drunk Driving Arrests for District 52
Trooper Beltran was recognized for his outstanding DUI enforcement efforts during 2022 with 50 arrests. Trooper Beltran patrols the midnight shift in the Indianapolis District and in addition to his DUI arrest efforts, Trooper Beltran also has a large number of criminal investigations and arrests. His efforts to remove dangerous impaired drivers from the roadways have undoubtedly saved lives.
