Pocatello police officers receive awards

The Pocatello Police Department honored some its own in an awards ceremony on Wednesday.

The ceremony was held at City Hall. Five officers received promotions, six others received awards.

Eric Bills was also sworn in as the newest officer for Pocatello PD.

Six lifesaving awards were given out for service above and beyond the call of duty to save a citizen’s life.

One purple heart award was also given out. By definition, the purple heart award is given to any officer who performs an exceptional duty while suffering a severe physical injury, or even death.

Corporal Kirk Howe was the recipient of the purple heart award. He helped to arrest a suspect who had been on the run. Howe sustained a badly broken leg while doing so. He also saved the suspect’s life.

Officers who received awards said they were very honored and very grateful.

“It’s a big honor,” Howe said. “It’s nice to be recognized. It’s important and everybody here in this department does a great job and everybody that was honored, seeing everybody deserves it and every officer deserves to be honored for something positive they do.”

“It was a little bit unexpected but it feels good to be recognized,” said Lauren Herrick, a recipient of a lifesaver award.

A complete list of recipients and promotions is listed below.

Corporal Kirk Howe: Lifesaving and Law Enforcement Purple Hear award recipient

Lifesaving award recipients:
Officer Ryan Kendall
Officer Lauren Herrick
Officer Jacob Pele
Corporal Joshua Hancock
Lt. Eric Anderson

Promotions:
Lt. Cliff Kelley was promoted to Captain
Sgt. Bill Collins was promoted to Lieutenant
Corporal Scott Matson was promoted to Sergeant
Officer Akilah Lacey was promoted to Corporal/Detective
Officer Russ Gunter was promoted to Corporal/Detective