 - Dozens of local first responders received recognition this week for their work to successfully resolve an hours-long stand-off on Pinecrest Street last month in Riverton.){kind=link}
(Riverton, WY) – Dozens of local first responders received recognition this week for their work to successfully resolve an hours-long stand-off on Pinecrest Street last month in Riverton.
“This is not about the criminal investigation,” Riverton Police Department Chief Eric Hurtado said during a Riverton City Council meeting Tuesday. “This is recognition for how the incident was handled, how law enforcement units from all over the county worked together, how civilian personnel supported our mission, and how it was coordinated in our dispatch center.”
On April 16, Hurtado said, the RPD was “conducting a criminal apprehension mission at a home on Pinecrest Street” when “a standoff ensued.”
“A call for additional personnel was quickly answered,” he said. “This included deputies from the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Lander and Shoshoni police departments, a Riverton community service officer and victim witness advocate, and several engine companies from the Riverton Fire Department.”
Officers, deputies, firefighters, and civilian personnel involved in the operation worked throughout the night, Hurtado said, with some staying up for 24 to 36 hours.
“I want to shout out to all the deputies and officers that were involved,” RPD Sgt. Jacob Nation said. “Their professionalism, patience, and teamwork throughout the night led to the successful outcome.”
RPD Lt. Heath Wharton, who served as Incident Commander during the stand-off, recognized those who served as team leaders that evening from the RPD, the FCSO and the Lander and Shoshoni police departments – as well as the individuals who “were instrumental for cleaning up after all of us made a mess.”
Hurtado thanked Wharton for serving as Incident Commander during the stand-off and also recognized RPD Capt. Romero, Community Service Officer Connor Knop, Victim Witness Advocate Luanne Luther, the RPD dispatch unit, coordinated field units, support units, and “units who were covering our calls in Riverton while the standoff was under way.”
“They truly … care about their work and were dedicated to ensuring all our officers were accounted for that evening (and) came home safely,” Hurtado said.
Finally, Hurtado recognized local firefighters, who “stepped up that night and stood side by side with our law enforcement officers.”
“Tonight we want to recognize the dedication of our firefighters who stayed with our law enforcement until they resolved the situation,” Hurtado said. “They assisted on scene overnight and were equipped and prepared to protect the neighboring homes in case the incident took a turn for the worse.”
The “essential support” local firefighters provided included “logistics such as a command trailer which was used as the command post for the multi-agencies, lighting, and helping maintain a perimeter while the city was waiting for additional law enforcement officers to arrive,” Hurtado said.
“It’s my pleasure to work with these dedicated volunteers,” he said, noting that “many of them responded from their full-time jobs, stayed up with our officers, and after the threat to the neighborhood ended that following morning, continued back to their daytime jobs.” “Tonight, on behalf of the entire city and your first responder brothers and sisters, we want to thank each of you who volunteered to make sure everyone came home safe.”
Hurtado also thanked the Riverton City Council “for allowing us to recognize the professionalism, integrity, dedication and determination” local responders displayed “to resolve that incident that night and result in no one getting hurt.”
Life Saving Awards
Hurtado honored two local officials with Life Saving Awards this week, including Sgt. Amy Fyler and School Resource Officer Tyler Larsen, who responded to a report of an unresponsive 64-year-old man who “suddenly stopped breathing” after falling inside of his home on Sept. 30, 2024.
“Our on-duty field officers responded and arrived to find the male not breathing and without a pulse,” Hurtado said. “Rescue breathing, compression and application of a (defibrillator) was performed, and several shocks were delivered to the patient. Their efforts prevailed, and they were able to get the victim’s heartbeat back. The ambulance arrived, and the victim was transported to the local hospital and survived the medical emergency.”
Noting that “the first four minutes is crucial when somebody stops breathing, and death can occur within four to six minutes after someone stops breathing,” Hurtado recognized Fyler and Larsen for their “quick and professional response” which “led to the saving of this victim.”
Larsen also received a separate award for his work as an SRO – specifically “on a particular day in 2024” when he “made a difference that we believe changed the direction of a situation where a series of events could have led to a tragic outcome,” Hurtado said.
“Due to the sensitive nature of this particular event, I will not go into specifics, but our SRO received some startling information about a young lady who had given birth to a newborn, was scared, and was hiding the event from family members,” Hurtado said. “Our officer was highly concerned about the female’s health and the newborn. Throughout the day, our SRO was able to narrow down the information and successfully locate the household. He identified the young mother and baby boy inside the child’s room (and) was able to bring care that they needed. If it were not for this officer’s actions and trust he’s built, this story would not have ended as well.”
Riverton Mayor Tim Hancock concluded this week’s award ceremony by offering a prayer for all of the first responders assembled at the meeting – including the local emergency medical crews who were there for a proclamation declaring May 18-24 as EMS Week in Riverton.
“The contribution that you make to our community every day is phenomenal,” Hancock told the group. “I just want to say thank you, (and) pray together for your safety, for your families’ safety, and for your families’ continued protection while you’re gone.”