Hero’s Name: Billy Cole
Hero’s City of Residence: Kansas City
Hero’s State of Residence: Missouri
Eligible Categories:: Police Officer
Please describe what makes this individual a TRUE hero:: Billy has served on the Missouri State Highway Patrol since 2010 and has also taken on being a part of the underwater search and recovery team in 2015, and last summer began on water patrol.
He is a true hero by putting his life on the line every single day to keep his community safe and also for spending hours and hours of grueling training for underwater search and recover which is a very challenging thing to put yourself through. He has trained in lakes, rushing rivers and even frozen over water in the middle of the Missouri winter.
Last year in Branson, MO a duck boat with 31 people on board capsized and sank to the bottom of Table Rock Lake during a severe thunderstorm resulting in one of the deadliest duck boat accidents in American history killing 17, including 9 from the same family. Billy’s skill, hard work and training was put in place as he was part of the team to recover the victims of this awful tragedy.
Please describe how this individual has impacted the lives and community around them:: While Billy serves his community with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, he is also a very devoted family man to his wife and 2 little girls.
The younger of the girls, Malina, was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a very rare form of bone cancer, at just a year and a half old. Being a hero just like her daddy, she completed chemo in 2015 and has been in remission.
If you have ever seen a child fight cancer it will change your life. Billy faithfully serves his community with the highway patrol while also being present in the childhood cancer community showing up to 5ks, fundraisers, and raising awareness.
His attendance to these events as a member of the police force really brings together law enforcement with the community. His service is truly unmatched.
Nominated by: Carrie Cole