Trooper receives MHP's highest award for hostage situation with armed suspects
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Thomas Tafoya with MHP Colonel Steve Lavin following a ceremony where Tafoya received the Medal of Valor, the agency’s highest award for mitigating a hostage situation involving armed robbery suspects. (Courtesy photo)
Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Thomas Tafoya recently received the Medal of Valor, the agency’s highest award for mitigating a hostage situation involving armed robbery suspects and then providing aid to the hostage who was shot in the incident by the suspect.
MHP Colonel Steve Lavin presided over the ceremony and presented the award.
To qualify for the award, troopers must show an act of heroism and bravery, knowingly expose themselves to obvious life-threatening peril, or react to a situation without regard for personal safety to effect aid or rescue. In March, Tafoya confronted two suspects that were wanted for an armed robbery in Idaho earlier that day.
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