Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Barb Armstrong on Nov. 1 received the Medal of Valor, the agency’s highest award, for locating and providing aid to a woman attacked in August by otters in the Jefferson River near Cardwell.
As the Monitor reported at the time, three women were floating the river when they were attacked by at least one otter. One woman, Jen Royce, sustained injuries severe enough to be life-flighted to Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, where she underwent surgery.
The Highway Patrol said that Armstrong, who is based in Butte, swam across the river in full uniform and gear, carrying an emergency medical services equipment bag. She assisted Royce and guided the life-flight helicopter to the location.
