MPD Officers and Switzerland County Deputies awarded the Medal of Valor

Awarded at Madison City Council Meeting

MPD Sergeant Wayne Phillips, MPD Patrolman Brian Ashcraft, Switzerland County Deputy Ryan Harrison, and Switzerland County Deputy Robert Morton were presented with the Medal of Valor during the City Council meeting on December 17, 2019. These officers displayed great courage and bravery during the incident, and we’d like to thank and congratulate these men on a job well done.

“On November 23, 2019 Officers of the Madison Police Department were called to the report of shots fired at a residence in the 8000 block of East State Road 56 in Jefferson County, outside the city limits. The Jefferson County Deputies that were working were on other calls and were unable to respond quickly, due to their distance from the incident. Officers of the Madison Police Department arrived on scene along with Switzerland County Deputies and set up a perimeter around the residence. Officers requested Jefferson County Central Dispatch contact the original caller and see if the occupants could safely exit the residence. Dispatch advised that the occupants were afraid to exit the residence due to the suspect firing shots through the floor, from the basement.

At this time MPD Officer Brian Ashcraft forcibly entered the residence with no hesitation. Officer Ashcraft was able to remove two occupants from the residence. The occupants informed the officers that the suspect was still in the basement and there were still three occupants inside of the residence; two of them were small children and they were upstairs, above the suspect. It was at this time MPD Officer Brian Ashcraft, MPD Sgt. Wayne Phillips, Switzerland County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Harrison, and Switzerland County Sheriff’s Deputy Robert Morton entered the residence and safely removed them from the residence without incident.

MPD Officer Brian Ashcraft was able to establish verbal contact with the suspect while other Officers were positioned to act if needed. MPD Officer Brian Ashcraft was able to keep the suspect engaged in conversation in an attempt to deescalate the situation until the Indiana State Police ERT/negotiation team arrived.”