Extraordinary events earn Airman a medal

  • Published
  • By Lois Walsh
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  An Airman with the 96th Security Forces was recently honored with an achievement medal for his actions as a security forces response team member. 

While receiving an achievement medal is not an unusual event, the circumstances surrounding this particular award are extraordinary. 

General Bruce Carlson, Air Force Materiel Command commander, presented Senior Airman Payton Townes the medal for his part in preventing what might have been a life and death situation. 

The afternoon of March 23, was a routine day for Airman Townes as he manned the law enforcement desk. Routine until a women came in, stating her life had been threatened by her husband who was recently reassigned to a base in Arizona. She told Airman Townes that, during an argument, her husband threatened to return to Florida to harm her. 

Airman Townes quickly determined the threat was real, based on previous reports of domestic violence. The woman's demeanor also raised his radar. 

"She seemed on edge, really concerned and worried about her own and her husband's safety," Airman Townes said. 

"Initially, during the first call, we were trying to verify the validity and obtain a rough window for Eglin arrival," said Lt. Col. Timothy Meserve, 96 SFS commander.
After failing in an attempt to get information from the husband's former first sergeant, the airman directly called the husband. 

"I called him just to see what his state of mind was and to find out if he was coming this way," Airman Townes said. "I explained his wife was worried about his safety; I didn't want to rile him up." 

While Airman Townes talked to the husband, Staff Sgt. Nathan Parker was on the computer Googling information. Sergeant Parker was able to determine the car's description and confirm the husband had registered a shotgun at his current base. He also retrieved law enforcement telephone numbers which were critical as the events unfolded. 

"The husband told me he was on a highway in Texas," Airman Townes said. "I asked him if he was on his way back to Eglin, and he said yes." 

Once the Airman got off the phone, he contacted law enforcement in Texas who determined the road in question didn't exist. Law enforcement there cooperated to help issue a "be on the lookout," or BOLO, for the husband in three states. Aggressive police work, using a telephone trace, located the suspect in Louisiana. 

"The trace started to give us longitude and latitude that we put it in the computer as it tracked the cell phone towers he passed by," Airman Townes said. "Sergeant Parker watched the computer and we informed the commander that he was really coming here." 

"Great Police work by my swing shift, operations and investigative staffs ensured our patrols and guards had the right information," Colonel Meserve said. "The midnight team had discussed likely scenarios and mentally rehearsed actions and developed prearranged signals."

Once alerted, gate guards, Officer Michael Stokes and Officer Gary Henry, were ready when the husband arrived at the East Gate. They apprehended the suspect and secured a cache of weapons discovered in his car. The day flight provided the immediate back-up and processing of the subject. Both officers have also been recognized for their actions. Awards are also pending for several key team members who also assisted during the incident. 

General Carlson lauded Airman Townes for remarkable police work which indicated "seasoning well beyond his years and rank." Colonel Meserve said motivated Airmen and civilians are an integrated team here at Eglin's security forces. 

"The team has a great balance of experience and expertise to handle any situation. We train for worst case every day and will continue to improve our tactics, techniques and procedures so we are always ready," he said. "Our active shooter program is being benchmarked by the Air Force, but alert sentries and aggressive police work ensured a heavily armed suspect did not enter our installation."