State trooper honored with Carnegie Medal for saving girl from icy pond
- Brad
- Mar 26
- 2 min read
By Keep Vermont Safe,
Trooper Michelle Archer of the Vermont State Police has been awarded the “Carnegie Medal for Heroism” for rescuing an 8-year-old girl from an icy pond in Cambridge in December 2023.
Archer is one of just 17 individuals in the U.S. and Canada to receive the award this year. According to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, the medal recognizes people who risk serious injury or death in extraordinary acts to save others.
On December 17, 2023, Archer was on patrol when she responded to a 911 call about a child who had fallen through thin ice. She arrived on scene in under five minutes, removed her duty gear, and swam into near-freezing water to rescue the child using a flotation device.
Trooper Keith Cote helped carry the girl to a waiting ambulance. The child survived and made a full recovery.
“When I jumped into that frozen pond, the only thing I was thinking about was reaching that little girl and trying to save her life,” Archer said. “The biggest reward of all is knowing she’s alive and well.”
In addition to the Carnegie Medal, Archer was previously named a finalist for IACP Trooper of the Year and received the Vermont State Police Lifesaving Award.
A video interview with Troopers Archer and Cote about the rescue is available here. Footage of the incident from Trooper Archer’s body-worn camera can be downloaded from VSP’s website.
Brandon man arrested in Poultney for DUI, suspended license
On March 25, 2025, at around 2:30pm, Vermont State Police stopped a vehicle on Main Street in Poultney for a minor traffic infraction.
The driver, Peter Senecal, 25, of Brandon, was found to be driving with a criminally suspended license and had an active in-state warrant for his arrest. He was also in violation of court-ordered conditions of release.
Troopers observed signs of impairment and took Senecal into custody for DUI. He was processed at the Rutland Barracks on $1,500 bail.
Road rage assault reported on VT-22A in Panton, police seeking suspect
On March 26, 2025, at around 6:30am, Vermont State Police responded to a report of a road rage incident near the Panton / Vergennes line on VT Route 22A.
Police say Vernon Miller, 53, of Panton, was assaulted by another driver following the incident. The suspect fled the scene in a White Ridge Construction truck.
The suspect is described as a bearded male in his 40s, approximately 5’9” tall.
Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP New Haven at (802) 388-4919.
Police investigate credit card fraud at Lyndon auto parts store
Lyndonville Police are investigating a credit card fraud case that occurred on March 19, 2025, at Sanel Auto Parts on Deans Lane.
Police say a man entered the store at around 3:45pm and purchased a $499 impact wrench using a credit card that was manually entered into the system. The transaction was later determined to be from a stolen credit card.
The department released a photo of the suspect and the vehicle he was driving. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Gerrish at (802) 626-1271 ext. 102.
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