By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – Graham County Sheriff P.J. Allred honored four of his employees Friday with pins in recognition for going above and beyond the call of duty.
The pins were awarded to Sgt. Jacob Carpenter, deputy Justin Baughman and dispatchers Tricia Payne and Adam Wright.
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: Andrew Kunz gives a hug to Sgt. Jacob Carpenter.
Andrew Kunz, 11, and a friend were attacked Feb. 20 by bees who had taken up residence in a rusted out old car in a gully where the boys were shooting a BB-gun behind Andrew’s residence off Sunset Boulevard. The area is in-between E. Graham Canal Road and Airport Road, north of the Gila River. The sound of the BBs hitting the car likely agitated the bees, which were most likely Africanized “killer” bees.
Carpenter and Baughman, and Safford Fire Chief Clark Bingham were stung multiple times during the rescue of Kunz, who was stung more than 400 times and had to be flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital to recuperate.
On Friday, Andrew and his mother, Christina Kunz, and grandmother, Petrea Kunz, were on hand to help Sheriff Allred award the special pins. Allred also presented Andrew with a special commemorative Sheriff’s Office coin.
“This pin more or less represents that day and what they did in their extra step in their jobs,” Allred said.
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: From left, Sheriff P.J. Allred enjoys his visit with Andrew and Petrea Kunz.
Bingham was previously awarded by the city of Safford for his actions, but this was the first time the dispatchers who directed the first responders received recognition. Payne said she has been on the job for 11 years and trained Wright, who said he has been with the department for six years.
“(We’re) glad he’s OK,” Wright said.
Jon Johnson Photo/Gila Valley Central: From left, Andrew Kunz gives a hug to dispatcher Adam Wright as dispatcher Tricia Payne looks on happily.
