In an emotional ceremony that highlighted both heroism and dedication to public service, the Texas Department of Public Safety honored 15 individuals with prestigious awards during the first Public Safety Commission meeting of 2026. The February 12 ceremony at DPS Headquarters in Austin recognized extraordinary acts of bravery, life-saving interventions, and career excellence among officers and civilians alike.
“The men and women recognized yesterday exemplify what it means to protect and serve Texas,” said DPS Colonel Freeman F. Martin during the ceremony, which showcased the department’s tradition of honoring exceptional service.
Career Excellence Honored
Two standout DPS veterans received the prestigious William P. Clements Excellence Award for their decades of distinguished service. Kristy Link from the Crime Laboratory Division was honored for more than 20 years of contributions to forensic science, including her expertise in DNA analysis and leadership as a CODIS administrator since 2002.
Lieutenant Laura Simmons of the Texas Ranger Division earned the second Clements Award for her exceptional investigative work spanning back to 1998. Her career has included numerous high-profile cases, mass casualty deployments, and a reputation for mentoring fellow officers — all hallmarks of the excellence the award aims to recognize.
Heroism in Crisis Moments
What makes someone rush toward danger rather than away from it? For Special Agent Michael Mathes, who received the Director’s Citation, it was a commitment to his four-legged partner. Mathes demonstrated remarkable courage when he provided advanced trauma care to stabilize K-9 “Rocky” during a high-risk fugitive operation in Houston on January 15, 2025 — the same operation where Deputy Jesse Vargas tragically lost his life.
Civilian Jeffrey Tyner probably didn’t expect to become part of a police operation when he started his day on July 10, 2025, but his quick thinking earned him a Director’s Award. After witnessing a high-speed pursuit end in crashes in downtown Midland, Tyner tackled and restrained a fleeing suspect until officers could take control of the situation.
In one of the most dramatic rescues, civilians David Acuña and Jose Sanchez received Director’s Awards for pulling a severely burned woman from a residential explosion and fire near US-277 south of Haskell. On September 17, 2025, they not only extracted her from the burning structure but also extinguished flames on her body — an act of bravery that likely saved her life.
Life-Saving Interventions
The Lifesaving Awards presented at the ceremony highlighted the critical difference that immediate action can make in emergency situations. Special Agent Mark Willey received a Lifesaving Award while Analyst Teresa Gee earned a Director’s Award for their response to a suspected fentanyl overdose at a Houston bus stop on July 30. Their quick administration of Narcan and CPR proved decisive in saving the victim’s life.
A choking incident at a law enforcement event on April 18 demonstrated how training and quick thinking converge in crisis. Region Chief Jeremy Sherrod and Captain Timothy Simmons received Lifesaving Awards, while Retired Captain Kevin Gray, Carlos Gonzalez, and Kevin Gestring were awarded Director’s Awards for performing successful Heimlich maneuvers that saved choking victim Lee Sage.
Suicide intervention requires both courage and compassion — qualities displayed by Corporal Jennifer Trevino-Hicks and Trooper John Jarrett when they de-escalated a crisis situation on May 1. The officers safely rescued a suicidal subject from a bridge ledge over President George Bush Turnpike, earning Lifesaving Awards for their efforts.
In other life-or-death situations, Trooper Simon Mijares applied a tourniquet to stop severe bleeding in a Polk County gunshot victim on October 15, while Trooper Thomas Goodson rescued a drowning woman from Lady Bird Lake near Austin on July 2 after she fled during a camping violation contact. Both officers received Lifesaving Awards for their actions.
A Tradition of Recognition
This February ceremony continues a tradition of honoring excellence within the department. At previous 2025 PSC meetings, Colonel Martin and the commission presented numerous awards including Purple Hearts, Unit Citations, and recognition for both officers and civilians who went above and beyond their duties.
“Service and sacrifice are so often required in the field of law enforcement,” Colonel Martin has noted in past ceremonies, highlighting the daily risks faced by DPS personnel.
The Public Safety Commission, consisting of five governor-appointed members serving six-year terms, includes Chairman Steven P. Mach, Commissioner Nelda Luce Blair, and Commissioner W.D. “Dan” Hord III. Their oversight extends to these recognition ceremonies that celebrate the department’s finest moments.
Beyond official recognition, the Texas DPS Foundation has provided over $220,000 in scholarships to DPS families and funding for awards that recognize exceptional valor and service — further cementing the culture of excellence within the department that these ceremonies represent.
As the officers and civilians returned to their duties following the ceremony, they carried with them not just medals and certificates, but the knowledge that in moments of crisis and throughout careers of service, their actions embody the highest ideals of public safety in Texas.
