Blue Springs, MO – On Monday, April 16, 2018, Mayor Carson Ross will be awarding the Mayor’s Legion of Merit Award to Officer Keegan Hughes in recognition of his work to raise funds and awareness for Police and Fire Department first responders who have fallen or been seriously injured in the line of duty.
Officer Hughes, a 15-year veteran police officer who joined the City of Blue Springs Police Department in 2014, is an endurance athlete who puts his grit and perseverance into the recognition of fallen or injured first responders. Officer Hughes has run four marathons in full uniform, and completed six half Ironman distance triathlons (swimming 1.2 miles, riding 56 miles on a bicycle, and running a half-marathon – 70.3 miles in total!).
In 2017 alone, Officer Hughes raised $25,000 for Answering the Call, a local non-profit that aids first responders and families of the fallen in their hour of need. Officer Hughes organized a local event “Laps for Wags” in honor of Independence Police Officer Tom Wagstaff, who was badly wounded in the line of duty in 2017, raising $20,000.
On March 31, 2018, Officer Hughes completed an even bigger physical challenge by running across the entire state of Missouri, from St. Louis to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City – 260 miles – in nine days – in full uniform. Officer Hughes raised funds for Answering the Call, a local non-profit that aids first responders and the families of the fallen.
The Blue Springs Mayor’s Legion of Merit Award was established in 2002 to recognize individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary service and leadership under extraordinary circumstances, and the award can only be given once during a Mayor’s term in office, with unanimous approval by the City Council. Mayor Carson Ross will be nominating and presenting Officer Keegan Hughes with this prestigious honor.