Deputy Travis Clark,

  On Wednesday, September 10, 2014 a family was spending time near the Augusta Canal.  Parents were enjoying time with their 12 and 13 year old daughters.  While wading in the canal, one of the girls began to struggle and then went under.  She did not re-surface and her 13 year sister tried to help but was unable to get to her. The girls’ father summoned help from a nearby off duty officer who called for assistance.  Deputies William McClure, Ryan Jones, Travis Clark, and Cpl. Charles Norton all responded immediately to the scene and without hesitation removed their gun belts and entered the water in a feverish attempt to locate the young girl. After several minutes Deputy Travis Clark located the girl in about 8 feet of water and brought her to the surface where Dep. William McClure took her and rushed her to waiting medical personnel where life saving measures could be started. The young lady was transported to the Georgia Regents Medical Center and her condition was dire.  It’s unfortunate that the victim succumbed to her injuries the next day.  The actions and motivation of these deputies were ultimately to save the young girls life by risking their own. Without the actions of these deputies, the child may not have survived until medical support arrived. These deputies went above their duty as road patrol officers by going to the aid of another without hesitation to assist a citizen in distress.

Deputy Dennis West

  On September 4, 2014 Deputy Jason Cunningham was dispatched to a burglary that had just occurred at 436 Pleasant Home Road.  Dispatch put out a description of the suspect over the radio.  Deputy Cunningham was advised by Deputy Dennis West of a possible suspect riding a bicycle matching the description of the one stolen, traveling on the 3600 block of Walton Way Extension.  Deputy Cunningham, along with Deputy West, performed an investigatory stop, and determined that the subject was in fact the burglary suspect.  The suspect was taken into custody and the stolen property was recovered on the scene.  The quick response and actions of Deputy Cunningham  and Deputy West led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the stolen property. The efforts of these deputies are to be commended and their actions are appreciated by this office and all of Richmond County.

Deputy Jason Cunningham,

  On September 4, 2014 Deputy Jason Cunningham was dispatched to a burglary that had just occurred at 436 Pleasant Home Road.  Dispatch put out a description of the suspect over the radio.  Deputy Cunningham was advised by Deputy Dennis West of a possible suspect riding a bicycle matching the description of the one stolen, traveling on the 3600 block of Walton Way Extension.  Deputy Cunningham, along with Deputy West, performed an investigatory stop, and determined that the subject was in fact the burglary suspect.  The suspect was taken into custody and the stolen property was recovered on the scene.  The quick response and actions of Deputy Cunningham  and Deputy West led to the arrest of the suspect and recovery of the stolen property. The efforts of these deputies are to be commended and their actions are appreciated by this office and all of Richmond County.

Deputy Stephen Jones

  On September 2, 2014 at 1143 hours, deputies responded to a burglary in progress at 210 Chatham Rd. A description was given by dispatch of a Gray Dodge Caravan as being the suspect vehicle. Deputy David Whelchel spotted the vehicle and followed it until Deputy Brian Strickland arrived. Deputy Strickland attempted to stop the Caravan but it fled to Warren Rd. where the suspects fled on foot. Deputy Strickland and Whelchel gave chase. Deputy Strickland, at great risk, chased the suspects across I-20. Deputy Jacob Green had responded to the area and joined in the foot pursuit. The suspects split up and one was captured in a field on Skinner Mill Rd. near Crossbridge Baptist Church by Deputy Stephen Jones and Sgt. Tommy Usry. The second suspect was located in a closet in an apartment at 3188 Skinner Mill Rd. that belonged to his sister. All property taken in the burglary was returned to the owner. There was no injury or property damage in the incident. The actions of these deputies are to be commended for their quick response and relentless pursuit of these subjects which resulted in the prompt and efficient arrest of 2 burglary suspects.  The actions of these deputies have helped to make Augusta-Richmond County safer for our citizens and these arrests will assist with the clearance of other cases in the area.

Deputy Walter Lamkin 

On August 24, 2014, Deputy Vernon Gandy, Deputy Walter Lamkin and other deputies from the Housing Squad responded to 1013 Carrie St due to shots fired and several persons hit.  Deputies arrived on the scene approximately 30 seconds later and observed several persons lying in the roadway and the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. Deputies also observed a PT Cruiser speeding away from the scene. A stop was conducted on the vehicle by Deputy Gandy and Deputy Lamkin. The driver was determined to be the suspect in the shootings and was taken into custody. This subject also sustained injuries in the shootings.  The efforts of these Deputies are to be commended. Their quick response to the scene led to the identification and location of the suspect vehicle. The resulting traffic stop transpired without incident. The suspect in this case was taken into custody and charged with murder and 3 counts of aggravated assault. Their actions are appreciated by this office and all of Richmond County.

Deputy Vernon Gandy,

On August 24, 2014, Deputy Vernon Gandy, Deputy Walter Lamkin and other deputies from the Housing Squad responded to 1013 Carrie St due to shots fired and several persons hit.  Deputies arrived on the scene approximately 30 seconds later and observed several persons lying in the roadway and the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. Deputies also observed a PT Cruiser speeding away from the scene. A stop was conducted on the vehicle by Deputy Gandy and Deputy Lamkin. The driver was determined to be the suspect in the shootings and was taken into custody. This subject also sustained injuries in the shootings.  The efforts of these Deputies are to be commended. Their quick response to the scene led to the identification and location of the suspect vehicle. The resulting traffic stop transpired without incident. The suspect in this case was taken into custody and charged with murder and 3 counts of aggravated assault. Their actions are appreciated by this office and all of Richmond County.

 Deputy Brian Strickland,

On September 2, 2014 at 1143 hours, deputies responded to a burglary in progress at 210 Chatham Rd. A description was given by dispatch of a Gray Dodge Caravan as being the suspect vehicle. Deputy David Whelchel spotted the vehicle and followed it until Deputy Brian Strickland arrived. Deputy Strickland attempted to stop the Caravan but it fled to Warren Rd. where the suspects fled on foot. Deputy Strickland and Whelchel gave chase. Deputy Strickland, at great risk, chased the suspects across I-20. Deputy Jacob Green had responded to the area and joined in the foot pursuit. The suspects split up and one was captured in a field on Skinner Mill Rd. near Crossbridge Baptist Church by Deputy Steven Jones and Sgt. Tommy Usry. The second suspect was located in a closet in an apartment at 3188 Skinner Mill Rd. that belonged to his sister. All property taken in the burglary was returned to the owner. There was no injury or property damage in the incident. The actions of these deputies are to be commended for their quick response and relentless pursuit of these subjects which resulted in the prompt and efficient arrest of 2 burglary suspects.  The actions of these deputies have helped to make Augusta-Richmond County safer for our citizens and these arrests will assist with the clearance of other cases in the area.

Deputy Jacob Green (seen in photo)Deputy David Welchel, Sgt. Tommy Usry, Deputy Steven Jones (all others not in photo)  

On September 2, 2014 at 1143 hours, deputies responded to a burglary in progress at 210 Chatham Rd. A description was given by dispatch of a Gray Dodge Caravan as being the suspect vehicle. Deputy David Whelchel spotted the vehicle and followed it until Deputy Brian Strickland arrived. Deputy Strickland attempted to stop the Caravan but it fled to Warren Rd. where the suspects fled on foot. Deputy Strickland and Whelchel gave chase. Deputy Strickland, at great risk, chased the suspects across I-20. Deputy Jacob Green had responded to the area and joined in the foot pursuit. The suspects split up and one was captured in a field on Skinner Mill Rd. near Crossbridge Baptist Church by Deputy Steven Jones and Sgt. Tommy Usry. The second suspect was located in a closet in an apartment at 3188 Skinner Mill Rd. that belonged to his sister. All property taken in the burglary was returned to the owner. There was no injury or property damage in the incident. The actions of these deputies are to be commended for their quick response and relentless pursuit of these subjects which resulted in the prompt and efficient arrest of 2 burglary suspects.  The actions of these deputies have helped to make Augusta-Richmond County safer for our citizens and these arrests will assist with the clearance of other cases in the area.

Deputy Kenneth McKenzie

On Augusta 23^rd 2014 at 1625 hours Deputy Kenneth McKenzie answered a call to the Augusta Hotel at 1365 Gordon Highway in reference to a burglary suspect in Room 244.  Deputy Kenneth McKenzie had just taken the burglary report from room 131 at 1515 hours this date. Deputy McKenzie went to room 244 and encountered two suspects in the Room.  Deputy McKenzie was attentive, observant and acted in a swift manner which led to the arrest of two convicted felons on firearm charges.  Deputy McKenzie's actions also led to a verbal confession from one of the subjects for burglary that occurred in room 131. Deputy McKenzie's attention to details also led to the recovery of a lap top computer that was taken during the burglary, the seizure of the firearm the convicted felons had in their possession, and the seizure of methamphetamines which led to felony drug charges being placed on both suspects. The following day, during a pro-active stop for a suspicious situation at the IGA on East Boundary, Deputy McKenzie was able to make an arrest on a wanted person for a felony armed robbery.  Upon reading the warrant application at CID, he learned that there was a second person wanted in connection with the same armed robbery whom he had observed earlier in the day on his beat.  He then went back to his patrol area, looked for the second wanted person, located him and made an arrest for the warrant as well as felony drug charges for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Deputy McKenzie's professional attitude during the initial call led to the witness coming forward and supplying him with the information needed to make these arrests and on the following day, his pro-active policing methods led the arrest of two armed robbery suspects.  Deputy McKenzie's exemplary actions, attention to details and professionalism make him very worthy of this award.

 Deputy Anthony Gregory

On August 13, 2014 another deputy had performed a Traffic Stop at 801 Walton Way. Corporal Jeffrey Burdick and Deputy Anthony Gregory stopped to assist.  While conducting this traffic stop a second vehicle stopped and Corporal Burdick and Deputy Gregory approached this vehicle.  Deputy Gregory stated he smelled marijuana inside the vehicle.  The female driver stated she did not have any marijuana.  The male passenger stated he had marijuana on his person and reached into his pocket and handed Deputy Gregory a clear plastic bag containing 8.2 grams of marijuana.  When asked if he had any weapons or any other contraband on his person the male subject stated no and then he tried to flee the scene on foot.  After a brief struggle Deputies took the suspect into custody.  Corporal Burdick sustained a laceration to his forehead and a large abrasion on his right knee.  During the post arrest search of the suspect's person, Corporal Burdick recovered 14.3 grams of powder cocaine and 11.7 grams of crack cocaine. The suspect also had a felony warrants out of North Augusta for drug possession warrant and resisting arrest with an injury to an officer.  Due to Corporal Burdick and Deputy Gregory's willingness to back up a fellow officer, their alert presence on the scene and their willingness to make the arrest even at their own physical expense, a felon was taken off the streets. The actions of these deputies reflect in a positive manner on this agency and its mission to take traffic stops to the next Level.