By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Springfield Police Department announced the distribution of a “Challenge Coin” to local resident Earl Moul, who helped take officers to a serious snowmobile accident on his personal UTV.
“He volunteered to step up and assist police and fire here,” Springfield Police Chief Jeff Burnham said. “He had to go some distance to go pick up his side-by-side and help first responders get there. Officer Woodell said he probably saved 40 minutes for them to get where they needed to be because it was so far down a trail.”
According to a release by the Springfield Police Department, on Feb. 22 the Springfield Police and Fire Departments responded to the area of Carley Road and Pelkey Road for a snowmobile accident involving serious bodily injury.
Officers reportedly spread out to locate the crash scene in what is described as a “VAST” trail. Moul saw the emergency vehicles and “immediately sprang into action,” by using his personal UTV to take emergency medical personnel to the crash site.
“At this time, the necessary emergency equipment had not arrived on scene to readily access the patient and ultimately would not have arrived for approximately another 20 minutes,” the report stated. “Mr. Moul’s actions allowed EMS personnel to reach and begin treating the patients quickly and efficiently. EMS would have otherwise had to walk almost a mile on the snow-covered VAST trail to reach the patients.”
The report by Springfield Police added that Moul provided information based on eyewitness accounts and used his knowledge of the area to assist officers.
“For these actions, the Springfield Police Department has found these selfless actions worthy of commendation and has awarded Mr. Moul a Springfield Police Department challenge coin,” the Springfield Police Department stated in the release. “Our challenge coins are awarded to individuals who have made Springfield, VT a better place. They are hard earned and we are honored to present him with one for his actions on this day.”
This is the second Challenge Coin distributed by the Springfield Police Department, with the first going to Robert Gokey for assisting in a structure fire in December.
The Challenge Coin Program was introduced by the Springfield Police Department at the end of 2024 and is meant for those in the community who are making a positive impact. Officers have coins, which have a Springfield Police emblem on one side and then a comical Simpsons donut on the other, and they are to be distributed to those making major contributions.
Goals of the program include the following: encouraging positive interactions between the community and police; promoting awareness of positive things happening in town by sharing stories of inspiration on social media; and fostering pride and friendly competition within the department in an effort to recognize kindness and service to the community.
Burnham said the intention for the coin is to be a “symbol of positivity, fostering fun and pride while highlighting the amazing things happening in Springfield.”
