Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers to be honored

Wednesday, March 31st 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety and the Highway Users Federation will honor five Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers, including one who was killed while inspecting a mobile methamphetamine lab.

The five will receive the 2003 Jerry Marx memorial awards and trooper of the year for heroism and humanitarianism on Thursday.

Nikky Joe Green, Cody Hyde and Colby Cason will be given the trooper of the year award, while Trooper Mike Cassingham and Capt. Mike Grimes will receive humanitarianism honors.

Green went to inspect a vehicle Dec. 26 near Devol when he was fatally shot. The driver was operating a meth lab out of the vehicle, investigators say.

Ricky Ray Malone has been charged in the killing.

Hyde and Cason were on patrol Aug. 15 when trooper Shawn Griffey was in a collision on the Turner Turnpike, Lt. Brandon Kopepasah said.

Hyde and Cason treated Griffey as the car began to burn, Kopepasah said.

Cassingham rescued four victims of the May 8 Oklahoma City tornado, Kopepasah said. Grimes assisted families of several slain troopers during court proceedings, Kopepasah said.