Idaho Falls Police Officer, Two Oakley Firefighters Will Receive Idaho Medal of Honor

(Boise) – An Idaho Falls police officer and two Oakley firefighters will be honored for extraordinary heroism above and beyond the call of duty as recipients of the Idaho Medal of Honor.

The Idaho Medal of Honor Commission announced today that the State of Idaho’s highest honor for law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs will be awarded to Officer Darin Moulton of the Idaho Falls Police Department, Captain Troy Greenwell of the Oakley Fire Department and Firefighter/EMT Joe Stringham of the Oakley Fire Department.

“The selfless courage demonstrated by Officer Moulton, Captain Greenwell and Firefighter/EMT Stringham reflects the commitment to service and dedication to the protection of others that the legislature intended to recognize when it created the medal,” Idaho Medal of Honor Commission Chairman William von Tagen said. “We are truly fortunate, in Idaho, to have these three men serving our communities.”

Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch will present the Medals of Honor during ceremonies at the Idaho Peace Officers Memorial in Meridian at 10:00 AM Friday May 12.

Officer Moulton is being honored for his actions on August 12, 2004 when he responded to an “officers need assistance, emergency” call. Two officers had been brutally assaulted. One officer had been severely beaten. The other had been shot. Officer Moulton had been informed of the fight and that a shot had been fired. Upon arrival, he discovered two officers down. The suspect was climbing off the wounded, bloodied officer, and the officer was screaming, “Shoot him!” Officer Moulton, unaware whether the suspect still had a firearm, did not hesitate, but rushed at him. Officer Moulton punched the suspect in the face, knocking him to the ground. Officer Moulton then handcuffed the suspect and attended to the wounded officer until an ambulance arrived. Later, when asked why he had not shot the suspect, Officer Moulton replied, “I just wanted to end it.”

Captain Greenwell and Firefighter/EMT Stringham, both volunteers of the Oakley Fire Department, will receive the Idaho Medal of Honor for their heroic rescue of Carl Covington from a November 6, 1996 fire at Covington’s residence in Oakley. The two were deployed to locate Mr. Covington, who was believed to be in the home. Captain Greenwell and Firefighter Stringham entered the back door of the home and began their search. They did not find Mr. Covington in the living room, where it was believed he would be, and flames and heat forced the men to exit the home. Captain Greenwell and Firefighter Stringham re-entered the burning building in a second attempt to locate Mr. Covington. By now, the smoke and flames were pushing dangerously low from the ceiling. With air tank alarms ringing, the men again retreated from the burning home. With fresh air tanks, they crawled back in a third time. The door to a room in a corridor they had previously searched was closed, and they initially thought it was locked. When they pushed harder, however, they were able to open it a few inches. Reaching behind the door, Captain Greenwell felt Mr. Covington’s leg. They forced the door open far enough for Captain Greenwell to get inside. He was able to lift Mr. Covington and, with Firefighter Stringham’s assistance, pull him from the house. Mr. Covington survived this ordeal thanks to the bravery and persistence of these two men.

The Idaho Legislature established the Idaho Medal of Honor in 2004 to honor Idaho police officers, firefighters and EMTs who were killed in the line of duty or distinguished themselves by exceptional meritorious conduct.

The first Medal of Honor was awarded posthumously to Idaho State Trooper Linda Huff who lost her life in a shootout at the ISP office in Coeur d’Alene. Trooper Huff protected the lives of her Idaho State Police colleagues through her bravery under fire and determination to stop the assailant from entering the building.

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