COLUMBUS, OH - Daniel Cox, an officer at Hueston Woods State Park in Preble County, has received Ohio State Parks’ first-ever Meritorious Service Award for his actions that saved the life of a Butler County sheriff’s deputy in April.
The Meritorious Service Award recognizes special valor displayed by commissioned parks officers during the performance of their daily duties.
Cox received the award for his actions on April 20 that helped save the life of Deputy Brandon Roberts, who was shot following a series of armed robberies in Butler and Preble counties.
Cox and another deputy from Preble County were pursuing robbery suspects when they encountered the wounded officer whose weapon and cruiser had been stolen by the pair. While the Preble County deputy continued the chase, Cox secured the area around Roberts and applied pressure to stop the bleeding from a shotgun wound in his abdomen. Cox treated Deputy Roberts with a first aid kit and oxygen from his own cruiser until emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene.
Cox stayed at the scene of the shooting after Roberts was evacuated, helping identify witnesses and eventually recovering the shotgun slug that had passed through the wounded deputy’s body.
“Officer Cox reacted swiftly to a very dangerous situation, providing emergency medical assistance to Deputy Roberts while gathering evidence and assisting other officers involved in the high-risk chase,” said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. “His actions provided physical and emotional support that contributed to the survival of the wounded officer.”
For his award, Cox received an engraved plaque and a special uniform bar with a gold oak cluster.
Cox began his career with Ohio State Parks in 1994, having served as a park officer at Hueston Woods State Park, as well as Sycamore State Park in Montgomery County and Deer Creek State Park in Pickaway and Fayette counties.