Valley native receives medal of valor, earns dad’s pride

CLUTE, TEXAS — Walter Hester said he’s never been more proud than last month when he watched his son, Phillip walk across the stage to receive a State of Texas Law Enforcement Achievement Award for Valor from the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement. Phillip and 12 others were chosen from more than 40 nominees.

“Being raised by a single parent, me, he’s done really well,” said Phillips’ father. His tone of voice indicated the affection the father has for his son. “I’m proud of the life he’s made for himself, but I told him not to let the medal go to his head!” Hester said he worried about his son and the danger involved in his work.

According to reports, Phillip received the award in the line of duty stemming from an incident in 2007 when he responded to a call for a suspected burglary. Apartment residents reported two men were burglarizing cars in the parking lot. When he arrived, Phillip found two men riffling through cars. He parked his patrol car away from the parking lot so he could walk up to them without scaring them off. “Anyone can scare a burglar away. It’s our job to catch them,” he said.

Phillip walked toward the two men. When they spotted him, they ran to their car. Phillip pursued. They got into their vehicle and tried to escape. In the process they hit him with the car, pushing him in the direction of another car.

“I couldn’t get out of the way fast enough,” Phillip said.

He shot two rounds into the car, wounding one of the men. They drove off, but were caught and arrested later by police. The wounded man was sent to the hospital. Phillip was not injured.

Phillip said he would never have guessed he would be nominated and much less receive a Medal of Valor. “It’s my job to do whatever I can to protect people and their property,” he said.

Police Chief Mark Wicker said, “We’re proud to see a Clute officer recognized and proud of Sgt. Hester.” This was the first time a Clute officer received this award, the highest honor given to an officer in Texas.

Detective Scotty Harris nominated Phillip for the medal. “He was faced with a 2,000-pound vehicle and he still maintained his professionalism and training. We’re trained not to give up,” Harris said. “Hester lived up to that training.”

“For one of my co-workers to see something I’ve done and say it was above and beyond is an honor in itself,” Phillip said. He received his medal last month.

According to Hester, Phillip was born and raised in Roanoke Rapids and graduated from Roanoke Rapids High School. He performed full service in the Navy, met and married a young lady from Texas (Rachel). They have three children. He served in the prison system for a time, then went to work with the K-9 Corp. in Clute. “He became a sergeant in three years, before he received the medal of honor,” said his father. “I’m so very proud of what this young man has accomplished. First he had kidney problems, then he had heart valve replacements, and all this before he became a police officer. He’s had a lot of health issues, but he never let that hold him back,” he said.

Hester said that while Phillip is beloved in Texas, he still misses his friends in Roanoke Rapids and he loves coming home. “I hate he lives so far away, but he loves his family and job. He called me on Father’s Day and thanked me for who he is, for all I taught him, his morals and integrity. He’s a very, very good kid.” said Hester.