Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen honored two Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) troopers Thursday for exceptional acts of bravery and service.
Trooper Jourdon Gulick received the MHP’s highest honor, the Award of Valor, for his courageous actions during a fiery vehicle rollover in 2024. Trooper Nick Wade earned the Attorney General’s Award of Commendation for going above and beyond to assist a man experiencing a medical emergency while off duty. The ceremony was presided over by MHP Colonel Kurt Sager.
“To qualify for the Award of Valor, troopers must demonstrate heroism and knowingly put themselves in life-threatening situations to help others,” Knudsen said. “Montana Highway Patrol troopers are some of the best and bravest law enforcement officers in the nation, as evidenced by the work of Troopers Gulick and Wade.”
Trooper Gulick’s bravery came in August 2024 near St. Regis, where he responded to a single-vehicle rollover. He discovered a pickup truck on fire, with the driver pinned under the rear tire. Risking his own safety, Gulick crawled under the truck and worked to lift it with a jack. With assistance from a Mineral County Sheriff’s deputy, the troopers stabilized the jack and were able to free the driver, saving his life.
Trooper Wade, meanwhile, was recognized for his actions in July 2024 while hiking off duty. He encountered a man suffering a medical emergency who was trying to drive to a location with cell service to call 911. Wade accompanied the man down the trail and ensured he reached the hospital in Dillon safely.
Colonel Sager praised both troopers, saying, “I am proud to know that our troopers are highly trained and always prepared to serve whether they are on duty or not. Their commitment to helping others is constant. I am beyond proud of Trooper Gulick and Trooper Wade for their bravery and willingness to help those in need.”