TWO AREA TROOPERS HONORED BY HIGHWAY PATROL

Throughout his eight-year career in law enforcement, Perry C. Hazelwood always wondered if he would be able to fire his weapon on another person if the situation arose. Following a shootout with a Laotian gang member in Jackson last fall, Hazelwood found that he could -- without hesitation.

For his actions, Hazelwood is one of seven Missouri Highway Patrol officers to receive meritorious citations for performance beyond the call of duty during 1994.

"It's kind of humbling," Trooper Hazelwood said. "I did not do anything that I don't think anyone else would have done."

Another officer from Troop E in Poplar Bluff, Cpl. Jeffrey L. Heath, received a work recognition award for leading the state in both felony and controlled-substance arrests. The awards were recently announced by the patrol.

On Sept. 2, 1994, Hazelwood engaged in the high-speed chase of a vehicle containing three suspects later determined to be Laotian gang members. The chase ended when the suspects' vehicle crashed at Donna Lane and Highway 61 in Jackson.

One suspect fled on foot and a second surrendered. The third, however, displayed a 9mm MAC-11 submachine gun, which authorities later learned was fully loaded. The suspect ignored several demands by Hazelwood to drop the weapon and then turned as if to fire. Hazelwood responded by firing his own weapon, striking the suspect three times. The suspect recovered and is serving a prison sentence in Illinois on an unrelated charge.

"It's a question you always ask yourself: Could you shoot someone if the time came?," Hazelwood said. "You wonder in the abstract if you could do that, but I don't have to wonder any more. My training took over, and it was pretty cut and dried. I felt I was very well prepared by the patrol."

Hazelwood has been with the Missouri Highway Patrol for six years, following one and one-half years with the Cape Girardeau Police Department. The Tamms, Ill., native resides in Jackson with his wife, Cynthia, and two sons, Perry IV and Mitchell.

"I did not really expect any more recognition than what I already had gotten from the community," said Hazelwood. "I think people should expect things like this from law enforcement officers."

Constant, hard work also should be expected, said Heath, who was recognized for making 89 felony arrests and 124 drug-related arrests in 1994, more than any other patrolman in both categories.

"It's pretty rewarding," Heath said. "It felt fulfilling because it was a recognition for hard work, and that always feels good."

Heath's work in drug interdiction last year resulted in numerous follow-up investigations throughout Missouri and in other states. His arrests led to the confiscation of more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana, four pounds of cocaine and four weapons from the vehicles of drug couriers.

"It makes you feel good," Heath said. "The only problem is you're almost sure you're not even putting a good dent" in the drug trade.

The Chaffee High School graduate has been with the patrol for 10 years after four years with the St. Louis County Police Department. He lives in Portageville with his wife, Melissa, and their daughter, Carissa.