By Pat Culverhouse
Minden Police Sgt. Reece Tewell was honored again Tuesday for his life-saving efforts after Webster Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Sgt. Aaron Barnes was struck by a vehicle last month while assisting a motorist in distress.
Kathy Babers, representing U.S. Speaker of the House Rep. Mike Johnson, and Halee Purcell, from the office of LA State Sen. Adam Bass, presented Tewell with commendations for his actions and his service to the people he has sworn to protect.
“Speaker Mike Johnson heard of your heroic actions and wanted to personally show his appreciation, both for saving the life of a fellow officer and for the service you’ve shown to your community,” Babers said.
“Senator Bass wanted to congratulate you Sgt. Tewell for what you did and for what you do every day,” Purcell said. “And Sgt. Barnes, we are all happy to see you on the road to recovery.”
Sgt. Barnes was also on the receiving end of commendations from Speaker Johnson and Sen. Bass.
“We are glad to see you making such amazing progress, and we want to give you this commendation in recognition of your outstanding service,” Babers told Barnes.
“It’s great to see you here today and we wish you the speediest of recoveries,” Purcell said. “This commendation is to honor you for your courage and dedication to the people of Webster Parish.”
Barnes is recovering from his January 30 injuries at home and is expected to make full recovery.
Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said Tewell was “…placed by God to be where he was at the time. He had stayed over a few minutes after his shift and that put him less than a minute away from the scene. And once he got there, he knew exactly what to do.”
McIver said he remembered speaking to the EMTs who attended Barnes and transported him to the Shreveport hospital.
“They said if Sgt. Tewell had been only a couple of minutes later arriving and caring for Sgt. Barnes, he would most likely have lost all the blood in his body,” McIver said. “It can only be described as a miracle. It was God’s work.”
McIver said both men are “…shining lights of what it means to serve. We’re glad to have both of them with us.”
