Martinsville honors officers for life‑saving responses at recent crashes and fire

Police Chief Rick Lang used the council meeting on Nov. 24 to recognize local officers for what he described as “life‑saving” actions that preserved multiple lives in recent incidents.

Chief Lang told the council he had given four life‑saving awards in the past two years and said two incidents alone likely saved multiple people. He introduced Officer Patrick Patterson, who, he said, on Oct. 25, 2025 observed an overturned, burning vehicle on Interstate 69, blocked traffic with his patrol car to protect bystanders and responders, located a second injured motorist and applied a tourniquet to control severe leg bleeding until medical personnel arrived. “Your decisive actions, calm professionalism, and willing willingness to intervene despite being off duty at the time represent the highest standards of the Martinsville Police Department,” Lang said in presenting the citation.

Chief Lang also recognized Officer Quentin Oxendine and Morton County deputies Jonathan Carr and Richard Lydell for a Nov. 8 incident involving smoke and a residence where officers found and evacuated two unresponsive Hispanic males during an attempted warrant service. The presentation said one civilian was transported to IU Morgan for further care and that Officer Oxendine briefly required evaluation for smoke inhalation before release.

Officers and deputies accepted the council’s commendation, and several council members and the mayor offered brief thanks. Lang framed the recognitions as examples of the partnership between Martinsville and Morton County agencies and urged appreciation for first responders’ work.

The council returned to its agenda after the awards presentation.

Ending: The recognitions were ceremonial; no formal action was required. The council proceeded to committee reports and regular agenda business following the presentations.