The Las Vegas Police Protective Association would like to recognize the three members of the LVMPD who were honored with 2022 Top Cops Awards during the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) ceremony in Washington, D.C., on May 12. Sergeant Spencer Basner, Officer Tom Cognian and Officer Jeffrey Corbett were honored for their bravery on July 27, 2021, when a suspect took officers and troopers on an extensive high-speed pursuit across the valley.

The pursuit tragically turned deadly when State Patrol Trooper Micah May was struck and killed while deploying stop sticks to disable the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect continued to drive on the interstate for nearly two miles with Trooper May trapped inside the vehicle. 

Through hard work and determination, the troopers managed to disable the suspect’s vehicle and shoot the suspect, killing him. Corbett smashed the vehicle’s passenger window and pulled May out of the car while Basner and Cognian landed their LVMPD helicopter crew on I-15 so that they could transport May.

Trooper May was immediately transported to a trauma facility, where he was taken into surgery. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and was taken off life support two days later. However, the heroic actions of Sergeant Basner, Officer Cognian and Officer Corbett allowed May, a 13-year law enforcement veteran, to spend his final days alongside his family. Thank you to these courageous peace officers for putting their safety and well-being in harm’s way to try and save a brother in blue.