Gov. Greg Abbott has presented the Star of Texas Award to five Lubbock-area first responders who were injured in the line of duty.
Abbott was joined by state law enforcement leaders and first responders when he presented the awards during a ceremony Friday in Austin.
- Officer Levi Israel Ridley with the Texas Tech Police Department
- Deputy Andrew Cavazos with the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office
- Deputy Jorge Martinezwith the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office
- Sgt. Shawn Wilson with the Levelland Police Department
- Chief Rex T. Plant with the Memphis Police Department
Wilson was seriously injured when he wasshoot by a barricaded man during a multi-agency SWAT response in July 2021 at a home in Hockley County. Lubbock County Sheriff's Deputy Josh Bartlett was mortally wounded during the shooting.
Plant suffered injuries after he was shot while he and an officer attempted to serve an arrest warrant on Seth Altman in October 2024. Altman was later arrested in Fort Worth following a days-long statewide manhunt.
Ridley was injured as he and other Texas
Tech police officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in June 2025, ultimately leading to a deadly officer-involved shooting.
Cavazos and Martinez were injured on Sept. 8, 2025 in a crash involving an 18-wheeler as there on the roadside of U.S. 87 assisting stranded motorists.
About the Star of Texas Awards
Each September, the Public Safety Office has the honor of hosting the Star of Texas Awards. During this event, the Governor presents medals to honorees and family members of peace officers, firefighters, and emergency first responders who are killed or suffer serious injury in the line of duty, according to a statement from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Since the awards began in 2003, over 762 brave Texans have been honored.
Nominations for Star of Texas Awards
The Star of Texas Awards honor all Texas peace officers and federal law enforcement officers or special agents acting in assistance to state or local law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty on or after Sept. 1, 2003.
To be eligible for consideration for this year's awards, the critical incident must have occurred between Sept. 1, 2003 and June 15, 2026, and the individual must not have previously received a Star of Texas Award.
History of the Awards
- In 2003, House Bill 1937 created the Star of Texas Awards to honor and commemorate selected first responders who made profound commitments while performing their duties as peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical first responders. HB 1937 also designated Sept. 11 of every year as Texas First Responders Day.
- In 2005, amendments to the Star of Texas Awards statute (Texas Government Code, Chapter 3106) expanded awards to include all peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty on or after September 1, 2003.
- In 2007, HB 1164 was signed into law amending the Star of Texas Awards statute to include awards for federal law enforcement officers or special agents seriously injured or killed while performing duties in Texas while assisting a state or local law enforcement agency.
- In 2013, amendments to the Star of Texas Awards statute (Texas Government Code, Chapter 3106) expanded awards to include all citizens who were seriously injured or killed while assisting Texas first responders on or after Sept. 1, 2003.
An advisory committee for each of the three categories of first responders, appointed by the Governor, reviews award nominations each year to ensure that they meet statutory criteria. View a complete list of past honorees.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: 5 Lubbock-area first responders honored with Star of Texas award
