SOUTHINGTON State trooper, Champion officer receive awards

By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
SOUTHINGTON -- Awards were given to an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper and a Champion patrol officer for their work in the apprehension of a man who was attempting suicide.
Col. Kenneth L. Morckel, OSHP superintendent, presented the awards to Trooper Larry A. Skaggs of OSHP's Southington post, and Champion Patrol Officer Robert E. Koehler, during a ceremony Wednesday at the post here.
Skaggs, who has been with the post since 1997, received a citation of merit and Koehler, a 16-year-veteran of the police department, received a certificate of recognition.
Threatened to shoot: According to OSHP reports, on Dec. 2, 2000, the Trumbull County Sheriff's Department requested help from nearby officers because they received a call that there was a man with a gun on Hoffman Norton Road Southington, threatening to kill himself. The sheriff's department stated it had no officers in that area.
"Trooper Skaggs responded to the scene and observed a Champion police officer [Koehler] exit his vehicle with his gun drawn," OSHP reports state. The trooper stated that he saw a man kneeling with a gun and the man was struggling with his wife and daughter.
"The armed man repeatedly threatened to shoot himself while his wife and daughter pleaded with him to put his gun down," OSHP reports state. Skaggs began talking to the man in an attempt to distract him so that Koehler could get closer to the man.
Koehler was able to grab the man's left arm and then Skaggs grabbed the man's right hand, which was holding a loaded .38-caliber gun, The officers were able to apprehend the man and take him to a local hospital.
"Trooper Skaggs placed himself in imminent danger to save a life," Morckel said. "His actions reflect the highest ideals of public service and the Ohio State Highway Patrol."