ATR L EWS ATR L - State Highway Patrol

Troop D Recognizes Sonya PerrymanBy Sgt. Michael W. “Mike” Watson, Troop DSummertime for most nine-yearoldsis filled with playing outside, makingtrips to the city pool, and generallyenjoying not having to get up early forschool. One July day proved to be lifechanging for one youth from JasperCounty.On July 3, 2011, Sonya Perrymanwas traveling in Barry County withher brother in a pickup driven bytheir mother. Driving around a curve,Sonya’s mother lost control of the vehicleand overturned off the roadway.Following the crash, Sonya unbuckledherself from her seat belt and attendedto her brother, Logan, but was notable to remove him from his seat belt.Sonya’s mother, Linda, who was notwearing a seat belt at the time of thecrash, was ejected and her leg pinnedunder the truck.Seeing both her mother andbrother injured and unable to summonassistance, Sonya decided to leavethe crash scene to locate help. Withinternal injuries, numerous cuts andscrapes, and a neck injury, she rannearly a half-mile to a residence andmade contact with the home owner,(officers l to r) Cpl. Jeffery L. Prewitt, Sgt. Mike Watson, and Tpr. Douglas W. Riley,all of Troop D, stand with Miss Sonya Perryman (center) after presenting her with aCertificate of Appreciation.who happened to be outside. Sonya describedwhat had happened, and wasable to direct emergency personnel towhere the vehicle was located.Later, at a hospital in Springfield,Sonya required surgery to repair internalinjuries, several staples due tocuts, and until recently, had to wear aneck brace for a torn ligament in herneck. A family member described thefinal rest of the vehicle as an area noteasily seen from the roadway. If Sonyahad not gone for help, it might haveextended the period of time before discovery.Both her mother and brotherhave since recuperated.The Patrol recognized her courageousefforts on October 14, 2011,with a Certificate of Appreciation.Members of Troop D presented it toher at the Service Center in Carthage,MO.Communications Operators Gather For TrainingBy Chief Oper. Roger D. Martin, Q/ICTDCommunications operators fromaround the state converged in JeffersonCity in October and Novemberto complete 16 hours of in-servicecontinuing education. This year’s inservicefocused on the professionaldevelopment courses required for allcommunications operators within Missouri.Topics included telephone andradio technique, customer service,and Americans with Disability Act(ADA) standards. In addition, operatorsreceived an overview of Patrolcar mobile radio system installationand troubleshooting on both the FordCrown Victoria and DodgeCharger. Finally, operatorswere provided an overviewof the rapid response vehiclesystems and state emergencymanagement communicationsequipment.Section Chief Shannon L.McGowan (right), Q/ICTD, showsAsst. Chief Oper. John R. Novotny(left), Troop D, some of thefeatures of the trunk kit designed bythe Patrol Radio Shop for the newDodge Charger radio installation.January-February 2012/Patrol News 13