Cortland Police officer receives Medal of Valor

CORTLAND – Cortland Police officer Kimberly Everhart received the highest national award for valor by a public safety officer Monday for saving the lives of two residents during a July shooting that occurred in their home.

The Cortland Town Board and Police Chief Dennis Medema presented Everhart with a Medal of Valor during a town hall. Everhart received the award for escorting a 45-year-old woman and her 18-year-old son to safety after both had been shot by Michael Sebourn – the estranged husband of the woman and father of the teenager.

Everhart – who had family, friends and colleagues in the audience – said receiving the award was an unbelievable moment in her career she never expected to happen.

"It's the highest honor anyone could wish to have," Everhart said through tears of happiness.

On the day of the shooting, Sebourn – who had been living in Arkansas – was waiting inside the victims' home when his son and estranged wife arrived shortly before 10 p.m. Soon after, a struggle ensued between Sebourn and his son, according to police.

The woman ran outside and alerted Everhart, who was across the street on routine patrol.

Medema said it is not clear when the first shots were fired, but shots were fired as
Everhart entered the residence.

Everhart entered and saw two men tussling. She deployed a Taser and downed Sebourn before leading the victims outside. They were transported to a nearby ambulance and hospital, where the teenager was treated for a glancing shoulder wound and the woman was treated for a nonlife-threatening injury to her pelvic area. Everhart never fired a shot.

"You train, train and train, and it's amazing how it just kicks in," Everhart said. "You just start going on instinct."

That instinct is not something everyone – or every officer – possesses, said DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott. He said it takes a certain person to have the courage to confront a potentially fatal situation on the other side of a door.

"She crossed that threshold into what was unknown territory," Scott said.

Medema echoed Scott's sentiments, saying Everhart always showed the moxie and discipline of an officer who could handle a volatile situation. He said the national honor is a great reflection of Everhart, the department and every police force – including DeKalb, Sycamore, NIU and Waterman – that helped on that day.

But Everhart's composure was the catalyst, he said.

"It could have had a whole different outcome," Medema said.

The outcome included Sebourn taking his own life shortly after Everhart evacuated the house with the victims. Medema said it was another unfortunate example of how domestic situations can "go south rather quickly," but there was nothing officers could have done to prevent the self-inflicted, fatal gunshot.

Everhart said it was a humbling experience to be presented with the award in front of so many veteran officers.

"I just have to give thanks to God," she said. "It really makes you feel special."