KBI agent is honored by U.S. attorney
By Bobbi Mlynar (Contact)
Originally published 02:01 p.m., April 24, 2008
Updated 02:01 p.m., April 24, 2008
Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent Bill Halvorsen, who is assigned in the Emporia area, was one of three law-enforcement officers who received Guardian of Justice Awards Wednesday for their investigative work into the fatal shooting of Greenwood County Sheriff Matt Samuels.
U.S. Attorney Eric Melgren presented the awards during a luncheon at the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee’s annual conference in Kansas City, Kan.
KBI agent Robert Jacobs and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent Neal Tierney also received Guardian of Justice Awards for their work in the case.
Samuels had gone in January 2005 to serve multiple arrest warrants to Scott Cheever at his rural Greenwood County home when the shooting occurred.
Samuels did not know that Cheever was producing methamphetamine in the upstairs portion of the house.
“Tipped off that Samuels was coming, Cheever waited at the top of the stairs and shot Samuels twice with a .44-caliber revolver,” according to Jim Cross, public information officer for the U.S. Attorney’s office.
“During the next few hours, Cheever exchanged fire with deputies and a SWAT team from the Kansas Highway Patrol before surrendering.”
In January of this year, Cheever was convicted of Samuels’ murder and was sentenced to death.
The agents “could not have known on that cold day in January 2005 that the killing of Matt Samuels would dominate their lives for the next three years,” Melgren said in a news release.
Halvorsen was placed in charge of Cheever and the investigation when he arrived at the scene a few hours after the shooting.
“His job was to bring order to the chaotic situation on the day of the murder and to manage the investigation during the following days,” the release stated.
Halvorsen produced detailed reports that became critical during the trial, when Cheever argued that he was too intoxicated by drugs to know what he was doing when he killed Samuels, the release stated. Halvorsen noted that Cheever seemed clear-headed when he answered medical questions posed by emergency medical technicians, though he acted confused when questioned about the crime.
Halvorsen later obtained a key piece of evidence in the case — a letter sent from Cheever to an inmate in the Lyon County Jail.
“Halvorsen negotiated the receipt of the letter, which turned out to be a description of the killing written by Cheever while he was in the Lyon County Jail,” the news release stated. “Again, Cheever’s detailed recollections flew in the face of his drug intoxication defense.”
Guardian of Justice Awards are given annually to federal, state, or local law enforcement officers to recognize outstanding service provided to the U.S. Attorney’s office to prosecute significant cases. The awards are the highest recognition given to law enforcement by the U.S. Attorney. Nominations for the awards come from prosecuting attorneys who work with the nominees.
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Posted by native_emporia (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 3:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It is nice to see those that work so hard recognized for it. Congratulations to these men for their work well done, this I'm sure was not an easy case for any of the law enforcement involved. Keep up the great work.
Posted by spectator (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm proud to be acquainted with Bill. Wish we had more like him.
Posted by neighbor (anonymous) on April 24, 2008 at 7:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well deserved award for a very professional law enforcement officer. Congrats Bill and thank you!
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