Lily Gibbens September 28, 2011

Nodaway County Sheriff Darren White received the 2011 Enoch B. Morelock Award Monday night in recognition of his courageous effort to save the life of a victim trapped in a burning house. The annual Enoch B. Morelock Award recognizes individuals with outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement and service to the community. It is named in honor of Sullivan County Sheriff Enoch B. Morelock, who was the first recorded line of duty death in the Western District of Missouri on Dec. 19, 1847. On Dec. 10, 2010, at about 7:30 a.m., White was leaving his house to take his kids to school before going to work when he heard a call over his dispatch radio that said there was a house on fire in the village of Pickering. White, who lives about three miles south of Pickering, was the first to arrive at the scene. After being informed by one of the residents standing outside the house that there was another man still inside White ran into the burning structure. White located Larry Smith, 60, and carried him outside to a spot a safe distance away. White wrapped Smith in blankets to keep him warm and maintained an open airway until EMS arrived ten minutes later. I did what I had to do, White said. Its not the job, its respect for human life. Id do it again in a heartbeat, White said.