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Outpouring of Support Displayed While Officer Tudor Receives Purple Heart
The Council Chamber at Hazelwood City Hall was jam-packed for the June City Council meeting. Family members, police officers, and residents all came to witness Police Chief Gregg Hall presenting Officer Craig Tudor with a Purple Heart award.
On Aug., 25, 2016, 12-year-veteran Officer Tudor was doing his job. He was responding to a location of a fellow police officer who was handling a mental health crisis. (Officer Tudor has experience in this area since he received an Honorable Mention for the Crisis Intervention Team Officer of the Year Award in 2007.)
The officer requested immediate assistance. While enroute to the scene with his emergency lights flashing and siren going, Officer Tudor was struck by a vehicle that was going in the opposite direction and made a turn. Officer Tudor was unable to avoid a collision. That collision caused his patrol vehicle to leave the road and overturn several times. He was subsequently extracated from his vehicle by emergency first responders.
The spinal cord injuries Officer Tudor sustained from this accident were severe. Since then Officer Tudor has gone through weeks and weeks of treatment and rehabilitation. The Purple Heart award is presented to law enforcement officers that sustain serious injuries in the line of duty. The HPD Awards Committee felt Officer Tudor was a deserving candidate for this honor.
According to Police Chief Gregg Hall, “As courageous as Craig has been throughout his career here at our police department, (And, I’ve known him since the day he started) he has displayed courage beyond reproach.
“But ever since this event, he has displayed this characteristic more so, having to deal and work through his personal and physical hardships as a result of the crash incident. I would like you all to join me in recognizing Officer Craig Tudor’s efforts and sacrifices he has made to the Hazelwood Police Department. It’s been my determination, he has more than earned the department’s Purple Heart award.”
Officer Craig Tudor, with his wife, accepting the Purple Heart award, given by Police Chief Gregg Hall.
