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Governor Nathan Deal - Georgia’s 82nd Governor (2011-2019)

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Home » Press Releases » Deal recognizes Georgians for acts of heroism in public safety

Deal recognizes Georgians for acts of heroism in public safety

November 5, 2012

Gov. Nathan Deal today recognized 18 public safety professionals for acts of heroism and eight for contributions to their profession at the Governor’s Public Safety Awards ceremony in Forsyth. The recipients were given medallions and their names were added to the Governor’s Public Safety Awards’ monument located inside the Georgia Public Safety Training Center.

“I am honored to recognize our brave law enforcement officers and emergency responders who risk their lives every day to make our state a safer place,” said Deal. “Public safety is one of the most solemn obligations of state government, and I thank these heroes for their selfless commitment to Georgia citizens.”

The annual Governor’s Public Safety Awards program began in 1998 to recognize public safety officers who go above and beyond the call of duty to protect citizens and make significant contributions to the public safety profession at large.
 
“We are honored to have the opportunity to pay tribute to Georgia’s public safety professionals who risk their lives daily and sacrifice time away from their families to protect the community,” said Georgia Public Safety Training Center director Timothy J. Bearden.

The Governor’s Public Safety Awards program recognizes public safety professionals in the following two categories:

• Act of Heroism – Recognizes those who, within the previous year, performed an exceptional deed that resulted in saving lives and/or protecting property.
• Outstanding Contribution which Enhanced the Profession – Job performance that had an overwhelming positive effect on the overall profession.

Personnel from each discipline of public safety as well as state employees with public safety authority are eligible to receive the award. This year, nominations were submitted by local governments, state agencies, associations, police departments, sheriff’s offices, correctional facilities, fire departments, 911 communications offices, emergency medical services and emergency management agencies, and private citizens.

Recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Public Safety Awards are as follows:

Heroism Recipients:
• Bobby Atma, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
• Keith E. Cox, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
• Matthew J. MacDonald, Georgia State Patrol
• Wes Ward, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
• MacKay Bloodworth, Georgia State Patrol
• Stanley Bowers, Gwinnett County Fire and EMS
• Michael Chastain, Gwinnett County Fire and EMS
• Michael Korb, Gwinnett County Fire and EMS
• David Brady, Department of Natural Resources
• Don Dasher, Department of Natural Resources
• Clint Jarriel, Department of Natural Resources
• Alan S. Harris, Lee County Fire Department
• Joe Hilton, Department of Natural Resources
• Jack Lawrence, Jr., Georgia State Patrol
• Jason M. Ross, Coweta County Sheriff’s Office
• James Bradley Walker, Georgia State Patrol
• John Matthew Webster, Gwinnett County Fire and EMS
• Jason Williams, Cherokee County Fire and EMS

Contribution to Profession Recipients:
• John G.R. Bankhead, Georgia Bureau of Investigation
• Gene Joy, Hall County Sheriff’s Office
• Terry Lane Joyner, Alpharetta Department of Public Safety
• Thomas E. “Buster” King, Jr., Georgia Department of Corrections
• J. Dale Mann, Georgia Public Safety Training Center
• Billy Mitcham, Thomaston-Upson County Emergency Management Agency
• Joseph Eugene Pope, Butt’s County Sheriff’s Office
• Courtney L. Terwilliger, Emanuel County EMS

For more details on each of the honorees click here.