Photo: L to R; Richard Reidhammer and Trooper Daniel Andersen.

FARGO, N.D. (NDHP) – On Friday, October 28th, the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) and North Dakota Peace Officers’ Association (NDPOA) conducted an awards ceremony at the NDHP Fargo Office.

The following individuals received the NDHP Colonel’s Award for Excellence and NDPOA Lifesaving Award for actions they took at a traffic crash on I-94 MM 285 at Hobart Lake in Barnes County on June 5 th, 2022. The individuals were: Richard Reidhammer, 58 YOA – Moorhead, MN and Wesley Kern, 38 YOA – Moorhead, MN

Richard Reidhammer and Wesley Kern were presented the Colonel’s Award for Excellence and the Lifesaving Award for the following actions:

On June 5 th, 2022 at approximately 6:30 pm, a 2021 Dodge Ram pickup was traveling westbound on I-94. The Dodge was occupied by a 64 YOA male driver and his dog Lulu. The male driver had a medical emergency and lost control of the vehicle. The Dodge crossed the median, the eastbound lanes of I-94 and then entered Hobart Lake.

The Dodge eventually drifted about 30-40 feet from the shoreline. Mr. Kern and Mr. Reidhammer both stopped at the crash scene, along with others. Kern and Reidhammer were the only two that entered the water.

Both Reidhammer and Kern swam out to the Dodge and were able to extricate the driver from the passenger side door. Kern stayed with the driver and helped him swim to shore. Shortly after removing the driver from the Dodge, the Dodge sank
underwater. Reidhammer learned there was a dog still in the Dodge and went underwater and retrieved Lulu from the Dodge, helping Lulu to shore.

Both the driver and Lulu were rescued in this incident because of the quick and selfless actions of both Kern and Reidhammer. They set aside their own safety to save the lives of two others. This is a great example of how all people can be first responders.

First responders don’t always wear uniforms. They are made up of the individuals that call 911 when they observe an incident and of people that selflessly act like Kern and Reidhammer did in this incident.

The NDHP Colonel’s Award of Excellence is awarded by the NDHP Superintendent to NDHP employees and citizens for actions that have benefited the NDHP and State of North Dakota. The NDPOA Lifesaving Award is awarded by the ND Peace Officer’s Association to first responders and citizens for actions that significantly contributes to the saving of a human life.