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Evansville honors civilians and firefighters for three life‑saving incidents
Summary
The Evansville City Fire Commission presented merit awards to four civilians and multiple firefighters for separate rescue, recovery and crisis‑intervention incidents occurring March 27, April 14 and June 13.
The Evansville City Fire Commission on a special‑meeting agenda presented merit awards to civilians and firefighters for three separate incidents that city officials said led to life‑saving or otherwise critical outcomes.
The commission recognized four civilians — Jenny Mogul, Lexi Mogul, Brian Conklin and Steve Neville — for actions on June 13 near Green River Road and Sugar Mill Creek. According to the commission, the group pulled a victim pinned by a lawn mower from a pond; the victim, identified in the meeting only as Mr. Williams, was reported unresponsive and “blue” before regaining spontaneous breathing after bystander aid. Lieutenant John Howard of Quint 9 told the commission, “There is no doubt in my mind that their actions saved this man’s life.” The commission’s awards subcommittee recommended civilian “citizen of merit” citations, and the commission approved those recognitions.
The commission also cited firefighters Gil Garrison and Wesley Brown for a March 27 recovery operation in Pigeon Creek. The department said strong currents, debris and high water made the operation hazardous; the two firefighters reentered deep, fast water, removed logs and debris that had pinned the victim and recovered the body. Battalion Chief Jay Paul’s after‑action report, read at the meeting, credited training and fitness for the safe completion of the operation. The awards subcommittee recommended individual citations for Garrison and Brown; the commission approved the recommendation.
Finally, the commission commended Captain Ben Peffer for his role in a April 14 incident at the Fifth Third Bank building at Third and Main Street. Captain Peffer engaged a person sitting on a ledge of the sixth floor for about 60 minutes, according to the commission’s chief and Battalion Chief Mark Mastison, and convinced the person to step away from the edge; the individual was turned over to the Evansville Police Department. The subcommittee recommended an individual merit citation for Peffer; the commission approved that recommendation.
Commissioners briefly paused the regular agenda for the presentations and invited families to join for photographs. The awards portion concluded before the meeting resumed regular business.
