Honoring All Those Who Have Served And Sacrificed for Our Community
Throughout Jefferson County, countless men and women proudly serve and sacrifice for the safety and well-being of others within their communities. At BackStoppers of Jefferson County, we are proud to remember and honor every single individual who has suffered injury or lost their life in the line of duty. Their dedication and sacrifices were selfless, and their memory will endure, leaving a permanent mark on our community.
On behalf of our communities, we thank every one of you for your service.
Firefighter Honorees
Marvin Shaffrey
BATTALION CHIEF | CEDAR HILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT | EOW 11/02/2021
Battalion Chief Marvin Shaffrey was 55 years old. He served with the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District for 42 years where he received multiple awards and was on the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District Honor Roll. He left behind his wife and two daughters. Our hearts are with Battalion Chief Marvin Shaffrey’s family, friends, coworkers, the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District and the community he touched.
Marvin joined the Cedar Hill Fire Protection District at the age of 13 on October 1, 1979, as a Junior Firefighter.
Marvin was a member of the Knights of Columbus: Father Jeremiah Murphy Council No. 6435. Battalion Chief Marvin Shaffrey died in the line of duty on November 2, 2021 after battling COVID-19.
Kevin Cremer
CHIEF | FESTUS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT | EOW 1/24/2022
Chief Kevin Cremer was 48 years old. Chief Cremer served for 29 years. He served 13 years with the Hematite Fire Protection District and began serving with the Festus Fire Protection District in 2005.
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He left behind his wife and Children. Our hearts are with Chief Kevin Cremer, family, friends, coworkers, the Festus Fire Protection District and the community he touched. Chief Kevin Cremer died in the line of duty on January 24, 2022, after battling COVID-19.
Alan Ducheck
FIREFIGHTER CAPTAIN | DE SOTO FIRE DEPARTMENT | EOW 3/1/1999
On March 1, 1999, Captain Alan W. Ducheck suffered a heart attack while extricating victims from a car accident and extinguishing a vehicle fire. He was revived and taken to the hospital, where he was unable to be revived after surgery.
Captain Alan Ducheck was 46 years old and a 13-year veteran. He left his wife behind.
John Wysong
FIREFIGHTER | HILLSBORO FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT | EOW 2/17/1985
On February 17, 1985, Volunteer Firefighter John Wysong was killed while rushing to a house fire at 1:45 a.m. on Jefferson County Route BB, just outside Hillsboro. John Wysong was driving when the pumper ran off the road, struck a utility pole, and burst into flames. Wysong wasn't pinned in the truck and pronounced dead at the scene.
Volunteer Firefighter John Wysong, whose love for firefighting began as a boy polishing trucks at the Hillsboro station, joined the Hillsboro Fire Protection District's Sparky-Program for young trainees. John Wysong was 24 at the time of his death. John Wysong came from a family of volunteer firefighters. He first became interested in firefighting at age 12. John Wysong became a Junior Firefighter in January 1973.
Clarence Watson II
LIEUTENANT | HEMATITE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT | EOW 11/29/2008
On November 29, 2008, Lieutenant Clarence Watson of the Hematite Fire Protection District collapsed and died of a heart attack. He had served on several emergency calls in the previous 12 hours.
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Clarence began his quest to be a firefighter at age 14 as an Explorer with the City of Festus Fire Department. Clarence volunteered for five years at Festus Fire Department. He joined the Hematite Fire Protection District as a volunteer in 2003. Committed to preparedness, he completed HAZMAT Awareness and HAZMAT Operations courses in 2003; UMC Winter Fire School and First Responders courses in 2004; and Bullard Save-A-Life and Firefighter I/ll in 2006.
Promoted to full-time career firefighter in November 2006, Clarence led and directed the district's fundraising for Missouri Burn Camp and the MDA 'Fill the Boot' campaign. A strong mentor to his peers and advocate for young firefighters, Clarence was promoted to Lieutenant on April 22, 2008. Lieutenant Clarence Watson is survived by his son Alex, parents, two sisters, and a brother.
Ronald W. Wehlage Jr.
LIEUTENANT/FIRE MARSHAL | DE SOTO RURAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT EOW 6/30/2020
On June 30, 2020, Lt./Fire Marshal Ronald W. Wehlage Jr. suffered a fatal heart attack at his home following his shift during which he completed a medical run. Lt./Fire Marshal Ronald W. Wehlage Jr. served with De Soto Rural Fire Protection District for 17 years and had previously served with the Hillsboro Fire Protection District for 4 years.
Lt./Fire Marshal Ronald W. Wehlage Jr. was a member of the Firefighters Association of Missouri, the Jefferson County Firefighters, the Fire Marshals Association, the Professional Fire and Fraud Investigators Association and the Ozark Firefighters Association.
Police Officer Honorees
Don Riffe
CHIEF | JEFFERSON COLLEGE POLICE DEPARTMENT | EOW 1/20/2022
Chief Riffe was 59 years old. Chief Riffe served with Jefferson College Police Department for seven years, and was an instructor for the Jefferson College Law Enforcement Academy. He also served as a Special Agent with the United States Army Investigation Division for over 30 years.
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He left behind his three Adult Children. Our hearts are with Chief Don Riffe, family, friends, coworkers, the Jefferson College Police Department and the community he touched. Chief Don Riffe died in the line of duty on January 20, 2022, after battling COVID-19.
James T. Garrison
DEPUTY SHERIFF | JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE | EOW 7/3/1982
On July 3, 1982, Deputy Sheriff James Garrison was fatally injured when his patrol car was broadsided while attempting to intercept two vehicles that were drag racing on Highway 30. Deputy Garrison was crossing Highway 30 from a side street near Main Drive in High Ridge in an attempt to apprehend a reported drag race in progress approaching on west bound lanes. A truck traveling east on Highway 30 failed to yield to Deputy Garrison’s vehicle, striking the patrol car on the driver’s side door. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
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Deputy Sheriff James T. Garrison was a 10 year veteran of law enforcement. He left behind his wife and five children.
Terry O’Connell
DEPUTY SHERIFF | JEFFERSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPT. | EOW 4/5/1978
On April 5, 1978, Deputy Sheriff Terry O’Connell was shot and killed by a motorist he had stopped for speeding on Highway 30.
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Deputy Sheriff O’Connell was a 10-year law enforcement veteran. He left behind his wife, 8-year-old son, and 6-year-old daughter.
John LeCompte
OFFICER | ARNOLD POLICE DEPARTMENT | EOW 11/21/1976
On October 22, 1976, Officer John LeCompte responded to Dudler Drive to investigate a suspicious person call. As he arrived on the scene, the dispatcher advised LeCompte that the suspect was attempting to force entry into a residential garage. Investigation revealed that the suspect and LeCompte had become involved in a physical struggle.
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Officer John LeCompte was taken to St. Anthony's Hospital, where on November 21, 1976, he succumbed to his gunshot wounds received 29 days earlier when he was shot with his own service weapon during a struggle with a burglary suspect. Officer LeCompte remained hospitalized from the time of the shooting until succumbing to his wounds.
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Officer LeCompte had been with the agency for two years and is survived by his two young daughters.
Steven Jarvis
OFFICER | ARNOLD POLICE DEPARTMENT | EOW 6/14/1977
On June 14, 1977, Officer Jarvis was assigned to investigate a traffic accident on northbound 1-55 on the Meramec River Bridge. One of the vehicles involved in the accident was a stake-bed truck that had spilled part of its load onto the roadway in the curb lane of northbound I-55. Officer Jarvis had parked his patrol car, with its emergency equipment in operation, approximately 100 feet to the rear of the truck. Jarvis had also placed several road flares to the rear of his patrol car to warn oncoming traffic of the road blockage.
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While the truck driver was picking up his spilled load, Jarvis was seated in his patrol car completing some paperwork. A northbound tractor-truck failed to see the accident scene and struck the rear of Jarvis police car. This caused the police car's gas tank to rupture and explode. The police car was pushed approximately eight feet. Officer Jarvis was killed upon impact.
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Officer Jarvis served with the University of Missouri St. Louis Campus Police prior to serving with the Arnold Police Department. He left behind his wife, 2-year-old son, and 6-month-old daughter.
Paramedic And EMT Honorees
Jonathan Noce
PARAMEDIC | JOACHIM PLATTIN EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE | EOW 5/25/2016
On May 25, 2016, Paramedic Jonathan Noce died in his sleep from an apparent heart attack while working a 24-hour shift. He had made multiple emergency runs earlier in his shift.
Paramedic Noce served the Joachim-Plattin Ambulance District in a part-time capacity since 2010. He served full-time with the Osage County Ambulance District. He previously served with the Mississippi County Ambulance District.
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Noce is a Crystal City High School graduate and completed the paramedic program at Jefferson College in Hillsboro. He is survived by his wife and two daughters.
How To Honor Jefferson County’s Fallen And Injured Officers
As a Missouri nonprofit for fallen and injured heroes, BackStopper of Jefferson County is committed to remembering and honoring their service by supporting the families of fallen and critically injured first responders. Interested in supporting our mission? Anyone in the community can help to support these families by making a donation or donating their time by assisting in our fundraising efforts.