JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- A Pulaski County sheriff's deputy received a Medal of Valor on Thursday for his role in ending a shooting rampage. Donald Hayden responded to a domestic violence call in a mobile home park in Dixon in June last year and ended up having a shootout with Rex Pennebaker.

Hayden was shot four times but has recovered. Pennebaker is scheduled to be tried in January.

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Edited news release from Sheriff J.B. King:

Gov. Jay Nixon presented the Missouri Medal of Valor to seven public safety officers from across the state for extraordinary acts of bravery and heroism that saved the lives of Missourians during 2008. Gov. Nixon made the presentations of the state's highest public safety award in his Capitol office and commended the officers, who were accompanied by their families and colleagues from their departments.

The Governor was joined at the ceremony by Department of Public Safety Director John M. Britt and by Col. James Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Pulaski County Sheriff J. B. King.

“These officers, who come from across the state, represent the very best of Missouri's public safety community," Nixon said. "Each act of bravery was different, but in every instance, these officers acted selflessly without concern for their own safety and helped save the lives of their fellow Missourians. I am proud to stand with them and on behalf of all Missourians, I thank them for their outstanding service and the fine examples they set of what public service can be.

"I am continually impressed by the dedication of the men and women of Missouri's public safety community. They and their families sacrifice daily so that we can have better and safer communities across this state. All Missourians owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who selflessly work to protect us."

One of the officers who were honored was Deputy Donald Hayden of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department. A brief summary of his actions was read to the audience before Nixon presented the medal.

“On June 10, 2008, Hayden ended a shooting rampage by a heavily armed attacker at a trailer court in Dixon by shooting the attacker. Hayden responded to a domestic violence assault inside a trailer, shots fired at a neighbor, and the bludgeoning of another neighbor with a pistol.

"The attacker had fled but was then spotted returning to the trailer court. To protect residents, Hayden drove toward the suspect and used his patrol car to block the attacker's vehicle. The attacker exited his vehicle and started firing. More than 20 shots were fired by Hayden and the suspect in a close-range gun battle. Hayden was shot four times as he ended the threat to the trailer court.”

The Medal of Valor is awarded annually by Missouri's governor after recommendations are submitted by the Medal of Valor Review Board. State statute authorizes up to seven medals each year. Recipients must be persons serving a public agency, with or without compensation, as a firefighter, law enforcement officer or emergency personnel.

The nominating form states the Medal of Valor is awarded "to a public safety officer who has exhibited exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind, and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her own personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life." State and local corrections, court and civil defense officers are eligible.