Trenton Police Sergeant Honored for Community Service

Press Release

Enoch B. Morelock Award

Trenton Police Department Sgt. Jeb Walker (center) receives the Enoch B. Morelock Award from Law Enforcement Coordinator Les Kerr (at left) and LECC Executive Committee members Sheriff Randy Strong, Sheriff Bill Puett, and Chief Mike Stolte.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Teresa Moore, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced today that Sergeant Jeb Walker of the Trenton, Mo., Police Department has received the 2024 Enoch B. Morelock Award.

"Sgt. Walker is an invaluable asset not only to his department, but to his community," said U.S. Attorney Teresa Moore. "His long tenure in law enforcement, the breadth of his extensive community involvement, and his exemplary military service truly exemplify the ideals honored by the Enoch B. Morelock Award."

The Enoch B. Morelock Award is an annual recognition of outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement and service to the community. Walker was honored on Aug. 22, 2024, during the 22nd Annual LECC Training Seminar in Springfield, Mo. The prestigious law enforcement award, presented annually by the U.S. Attorney's Office Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, 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.

Walker has served the Trenton Police Department for 26 years. He continues to serve in patrol and oversees all traffic-related incidents. He is also the designated firearms instructor, OC Instructor and field training officer.

Walker is also actively involved in a number of volunteer activities in his community. Walker serves on his school district's Bright Futures Committee, which hosts back to school activities, a food drive, Lunch Buddy Program and teacher appreciation day among other events. He's the lead ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce, assisting and leading numerous events throughout the year. He serves as vice president of the local Kiwanis Club and is an integral part of the Christmas Wish Program, securing donations from the Marines Toys for Tots drive for young people who might not otherwise receive Christmas gifts. This officer also participates in the Main Street and downtown promotions committee, where he has co-chaired the Community Clean-up week and Tin Can Day program.

Walker is also a trained volunteer firefighter and president of the underwater rescue team that serves the area.

In addition to his law enforcement and volunteer community service, Walker served in the United States Marine Corp Reserves for 21 years as a Gunnery Sergeant and in 2016 transitioned to the Missouri Army National Guard, where he serves as a Staff Sergeant. While in the Marines, he deployed for Operation Iraqi Freedom and to South America. He earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Iraq Campaign Medal and graduated as an instructor of water survival. As a member of the Missouri Army National Guard, he deployed to Kuwait for Operation Enduring Freedom and has earned two Army Commendation Medals, the Army Achievement Medal and the Master Resiliency Instructor Award. He has served as Past Commander and is currently the Judge Advocate for his local VFW Post, and is currently on the board of directors for the Grundy County Veterans Association.

Enoch B. Morelock Award

Sullivan County Sheriff Enoch B. Morelock was the first recorded line of duty death in the Western District of Missouri on Dec. 19, 1847. He was appointed the first sheriff of Sullivan County, Mo., in 1845. He was in office a little over two years, but he was known to be an honorable, hardworking man intent on protecting the residents of his community. Sheriff Morelock was shot and killed during a court-ordered sale of the accused's property. The accused killer, Patrick McIntry, was charged with first degree murder but was later acquitted. Within a year Mr. McIntry was found shot to death on the banks of a local river.

The annual Enoch B. Morelock Award recognizes individuals with outstanding moral character, service to law enforcement and to the community outside of law enforcement. Recipients may include officers from local police departments, sheriffs' offices, state agencies, or federal agencies as well as investigators from prosecutors' offices.

Updated August 30, 2024