Several members of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and Oregon State Police were honored last month by the Oregon State Sheriff's Association (OSSA).
Five members of the Sheriff's Office and four members of OSP traveled to Bend in December to receive OSSA Awards of Valor, which are presented to a deputy or state trooper who in the line of duty distinguishes themselves by the performance of an act of courage involving the risk of immediate danger to their life.
These Awards of Valor are directly related to the local law enforcement officers' courage in the 2022 Manzanita Rest Area Incident in which an armed individual who shot a woman was terminated during a gunfight with deputies and troopers.
From the Josephine County Sheriff's Office, Awards of Valor were presented to Undersheriff Travis Snyder, Sergeant Craig Ricker, Deputy Gerald Bayard, Deputy Chris Watson and Deputy Tanner Sherrow.
From the Central Point Command of OSP, Awards of Valor were presented to Lieutenant Mike Benson, Sergeant Mike Hawkins, Trooper Anthony Griffith and Trooper Corey Harris.
