Stanton officer awarded Purple Heart for actions during 2022 arrest

STANTON, Ky. (WTVQ) — A Stanton police officer on Thursday was awarded a Purple Heart for his heroic actions during an arrest last year.

On April 24, 2022, Officer Christopher Friel was helping multiple agencies in the pursuit of a suspect. That person allegedly struck Friel’s patrol vehicle and due to injuries Friel sustained during the incident, he was forced to retire this year.

“Although not the way he wanted to finish his law enforcement career, we are thankful for the courage, sacrifice and commitment he showed to the people of Stanton, Clay City and all of Powell County during his 9 years of professional police service,” the Stanton Police Department wrote on Facebook.

On Thursday, during a city council meeting, Friel was given the award.

Friel first started his career in 2014 as a deputy sheriff with the Powell County Sheriff’s Office. Over the course of his career, he served as a patrol deputy and a school resource officer. He also briefly served as an officer for the late Chief James Kirk at the Clay City Police Department before joining the Stanton Police Department in 2018.