Berrien County Officers Honored

Thirteen officers of the Berrien County Sheriff's Department have been given awards for their work over the past year. Undersheriff Chuck Heit presented several awards Thursday at the Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting, starting with the Medal of Valor for Sergeant Trent Babcock for actions he took at the risk of his own life in February in South Bend.

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Lieutenant Rick Biggart and Deputy Marc Hopkinks received the Medal of Meritorious Service for their actions the same day in South Bend arresting an armed suspect wanted for nearly three dozen breaking and enterings. Deputy Jason Haskins was awarded the Letter of Commendation for investigative work in the same case. Deputy Jason Uhrik was given the Livesaving Award Presented with Honor for stopping an attempted suicide at the county jail in September, while Lieutenant Martin Kurtz received the same award for a water rescue amid 10-feet-high waves on Lake Michigan off Tiscornia Beach, rescuing two people.

The full list of awards is as follows:
Medal of Valor: Sergeant Trent Babcock
Medal of Meritorious Service: Lieutenant Rick Biggart; Deputy Marc Hopkins
Letter of Commendation: Deputy Jason Haskins
Lifesaving Award Presented With Honor: Deputy Jason Uhrik
Lifesaving Award Presented With Honor: Lieutenant Martin Kurtz

Awards announced but not presented will go to:
Sergeant Aaron Barker
Deputy Sarah Kurtz
Deputy Abigail Pifer
Deputy Nick Stama
Deputy Greg Toliver
Deputy Brendan Scarpone
Deputy Anthony Phillips