The State Team Member of the Month for March is credited with acting to save an emotionally depressed woman's life.
That's not unusual for a trained first responder in the Missouri State Highway Patrol, but in this case, the assistance came from a public information specialist who manages and creates content for the agency's multiple social media accounts.
Megan Basinger of Wardsville helped to prevent a potential suicide after becoming concerned for a woman who had sent an email to a patrol account. In it, the woman explained she had been in a traffic crash and felt responsible, thus becoming depressed and having "very bad thoughts."
Basinger used information in the messages to identify the woman through her social media accounts. The patrol determined the crash occurred in the Rolla area, and sent the information to staff at Rolla-based Troop I, who worked with the Rolla Police Department to locate the woman to offer her help.
"The care and compassion with which Meghan Basinger performs her job responsibilities made a tremendous difference in a person's life," Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. "Meghan's actions and this state recognition demonstrate that there are many ways to serve and affect the lives of Missourians within the Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety. I congratulate Meghan on this well-deserved honor."
Basinger is a public information specialist III in the patrol's Public Information and Education Division in Jefferson City. She has served the patrol for 10 years. Her selection as the Missouri Department of Public Safety Non-Sworn Team Member of the Month in February made her eligible for the state honor.