RRSP Ranger Jabben State Employee of the Month
Jabben
March 14, 2015
Charlea Mills
After being named the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Employee of the Month for February, Roaring River State Park Ranger Steve Jabben was awarded the March Employee of the Month for the entire state.
Jabben’s nomination stemmed from an incident on November 16, 2014, when a car crashed on Highway 112 south of the park. When he arrived, two men were trying to pull a man from the passenger side of a truck that was on fire. He heard what sounded like a rifle shot and was told that the truck contained ammunition.
According to the DNR Employee of the Month recognition, “Jabben, without regard for his own safety, grabbed the victim away from the burning truck to an apparent safe distance.” He and a bystander moved him again when more ammunition began to detonate.
While Jabben tended to the man by covering him with a warm blanket and ensuring that he could breathe, he also instructed MoDOT and the Seligman Fire Department personnel to shut down the highway to prevent another accident on the blind curve where the truck had crashed.
When Jabben was nominated for the DNR award for February, Capt. David Snyder, the Region Captain, who joined Sgt. Dustin Young, Jabben’s immediate supervisor, in the nomination said, “Ranger Jabben’s leadership, courage and quick response during this stressful situation was outstanding.”
“Ranger Jabben takes a great amount of pride and determination to always go above what is expected of him in his normal duties,” said Young.
“He could very well have saved lives of not only the driver, but unsuspecting motorists who drove up on that blind curve after the wreck. Putting the victim’s well-being before his own is a true testament to his commitment to the citizens he serves,” said Snyder. “He brings that same work ethic to the park every day, looking to protect and serve.”
Jabben’s acts also garnered the attention of the Missouri Office of Administration who chooses a state-wide employee of the month from nominations from all 22 state departments. According to the office, “The purpose of the State Employee of the Month Program is to recognize individual contributions of a Missouri State employee who has provided outstanding service for the citizens of Missouri.”
Jabben said, “I was very surprised when I found out I was nominated by my Captain David Snyder, for Department of Natural Resources Employee of the Month for February and got that. I was even more surprised I was nominated for State Employee of the Month by the Director of Natural Resources, Sara Parker Pauley.”
When asked if he felt he went above and beyond the call of duty, Jabben replied, “No, I do not. Incidents like these are part of the job.”
Jabben resides in rural Cassville with his wife, Carrie. He has lived in Barry County since 1999 and has worked in law enforcement since he graduated from the academy at Missouri Southern State University in 2001. He was hired as the Park Ranger on March 17, 2014, after serving as a Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy.
Charlea Mills
After being named the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Employee of the Month for February, Roaring River State Park Ranger Steve Jabben was awarded the March Employee of the Month for the entire state.
Jabben’s nomination stemmed from an incident on November 16, 2014, when a car crashed on Highway 112 south of the park. When he arrived, two men were trying to pull a man from the passenger side of a truck that was on fire. He heard what sounded like a rifle shot and was told that the truck contained ammunition.
According to the DNR Employee of the Month recognition, “Jabben, without regard for his own safety, grabbed the victim away from the burning truck to an apparent safe distance.” He and a bystander moved him again when more ammunition began to detonate.
While Jabben tended to the man by covering him with a warm blanket and ensuring that he could breathe, he also instructed MoDOT and the Seligman Fire Department personnel to shut down the highway to prevent another accident on the blind curve where the truck had crashed.
When Jabben was nominated for the DNR award for February, Capt. David Snyder, the Region Captain, who joined Sgt. Dustin Young, Jabben’s immediate supervisor, in the nomination said, “Ranger Jabben’s leadership, courage and quick response during this stressful situation was outstanding.”
“Ranger Jabben takes a great amount of pride and determination to always go above what is expected of him in his normal duties,” said Young.
“He could very well have saved lives of not only the driver, but unsuspecting motorists who drove up on that blind curve after the wreck. Putting the victim’s well-being before his own is a true testament to his commitment to the citizens he serves,” said Snyder. “He brings that same work ethic to the park every day, looking to protect and serve.”
Jabben’s acts also garnered the attention of the Missouri Office of Administration who chooses a state-wide employee of the month from nominations from all 22 state departments. According to the office, “The purpose of the State Employee of the Month Program is to recognize individual contributions of a Missouri State employee who has provided outstanding service for the citizens of Missouri.”
Jabben said, “I was very surprised when I found out I was nominated by my Captain David Snyder, for Department of Natural Resources Employee of the Month for February and got that. I was even more surprised I was nominated for State Employee of the Month by the Director of Natural Resources, Sara Parker Pauley.”
When asked if he felt he went above and beyond the call of duty, Jabben replied, “No, I do not. Incidents like these are part of the job.”
Jabben resides in rural Cassville with his wife, Carrie. He has lived in Barry County since 1999 and has worked in law enforcement since he graduated from the academy at Missouri Southern State University in 2001. He was hired as the Park Ranger on March 17, 2014, after serving as a Barry County Sheriff’s Deputy.
