Dated this day, the Twentieth of March, Two Thousand and Twenty-Four.

 On February 15th, 2024, at 2022 hours, Deputy Hayes responded to South-Bound Deans Bridge Road near Morgan Road in reference to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. Upon arrival, Deputy Hayes found a female victim who was agonal breathing and her right leg was severed below the knee. Deputy Hayes immediately applied a tourniquet to the victim's leg and started CPR. Deputy Hayes continued CPR for an extended period after medical personnel arrived on the scene. This action allowed medical personnel to treat other injuries and prepare her for transport to the trauma center.

Deputy Taylor Hayes is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On May 3, 2023, Deputy Jamie Champion was recognized at the 18^th Annual Golden Shield Awards as the “D.U.I. Hero” for the State of Georgia by Mother’s Against Drunk Driving. The 302 D.U.I. arrests made by Deputy Champion is the most in the state of Georgia by an Officer. Deputy Champion has finished first in the State for D.U.I. arrests in 2021, 2022 and finished second in 2020. Deputy Champion’s selfless service and dedication to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and is therefore worthy of recognition.

Deputy Jamie Champion is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On March 21, 2023, Sergeant Byrnie Hardin was off duty with his son at the Peach Orchard Road Pharmacy, 2529 Peach Orchard Road, when an armed subject walked behind the pharmacy counter, pointed a handgun at the employees and demanded Oxycodone pills. The suspect grabbed the pills and fled the business on foot. Sergeant Hardin was in the break room area when the incident occurred, retrieved his off duty carry weapon and pursued the suspect toward Woodward Ave. While fleeing, the suspect stopped and pointed his handgun at Sergeant Hardin who continued running toward the suspect who continued fleeing. Sergeant Hardin chased the suspect to a waiting get-away car. Sergeant Hardin was able to get a description of the second suspect driving the vehicle as well as a partial tag and vehicle description. Deputies were able to check the Flock cameras to get the complete tag information as well as the name and address of the registered owner. Deputies were able to use the information that Sergeant Hardin obtained to further their investigation and arrest the two suspects for armed robber. Sergeant Hardin’s selfless service and dedication to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and is therefore worthy of recognition.

Sergeant Hardin is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On March 17, 2023, Deputy Noah Johnson was en-route to the hospital with a subject when Deputy Johnson was flagged down by a motorist on the 3200 block of Deans Bridge Road. The motorist was in distress because her infant child could not breathe. Deputy Johnson instructed the female motorist to pull over. Deputy Johnson stopped behind her and exited his vehicle. As he approached, the female frantically exited the vehicle with a near lifeless child struggling to breathe. Deputy Johnson quickly called for EMS to be dispatched and then referred to his training, Deputy Johnson began performing necessary lifesaving skills to include the infant Heimlich maneuver. After several attempts, the infant began to breathe and then cry. Deputy Johnson then handed the child back to its grateful mother. Deputy Johnson turned the mother and child over to EMS once they arrived. He then returned to his vehicle and continued with his original transport. When asked about the incident, Deputy Johnson replied humbly, "It's just part of my job." Deputy Johnson's selfless service and dedication to duty reflects great credit upon himself and the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and is therefore worthy of recognition.

Deputy Noah Johnson is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On March 19, 2023, Deputy Faith Cupp, Deputy Crystal Battle, and Deputy Austin Swiger, responded to a vehicle crash in the parking lot of the Post Office located at 3301 Wrightsboro Rd. Upon deputies arrival, they found a gray Kia Forte rolled over on its roof, with an elderly driver still seat belted upside down in the vehicle. The driver was unresponsive. The three deputies were able to get the driver out the vehicle and found her unresponsive. They started CPR and continued until EMS arrived. Sgt. Cody Turner, a 14-year veteran of the Augusta Fire Dept. and certified EMS and CPR instructor, stated the 3 deputies were Giving "High Quality" CPR. Due to the deputies quick and effective efforts, return of spontaneous circulation was obtained. The driver was transported to AUMC, where she is still in critical condition. 

Deputy Austin Swiger is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On March 19, 2023, Deputy Faith Cupp, Deputy Crystal Battle, and Deputy Austin Swiger, responded to a vehicle crash in the parking lot of the Post Office located at 3301 Wrightsboro Rd. Upon deputies arrival, they found a gray Kia Forte rolled over on its roof, with an elderly driver still seat belted upside down in the vehicle. The driver was unresponsive. The three deputies were able to get the driver out the vehicle and found her unresponsive. They started CPR and continued until EMS arrived. Sgt. Cody Turner, a 14-year veteran of the Augusta Fire Dept. and certified EMS and CPR instructor, stated the 3 deputies were Giving "High Quality" CPR. Due to the deputies quick and effective efforts, return of spontaneous circulation was obtained. The driver was transported to AUMC, where she is still in critical condition. 

Deputy Faith Cupp is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On March 19, 2023, Deputy Faith Cupp, Deputy Crystal Battle, and Deputy Austin Swiger, responded to a vehicle crash in the parking lot of the Post Office located at 3301 Wrightsboro Rd. Upon deputies arrival, they found a gray Kia Forte rolled over on its roof, with an elderly driver still seat belted upside down in the vehicle. The driver was unresponsive. The three deputies were able to get the driver out the vehicle and found her unresponsive. They started CPR and continued until EMS arrived. Sgt. Cody Turner, a 14-year veteran of the Augusta Fire Dept. and certified EMS and CPR instructor, stated the 3 deputies were Giving "High Quality" CPR. Due to the deputies quick and effective efforts, return of spontaneous circulation was obtained. The driver was transported to AUMC, where she is still in critical condition. 

Deputy Crystal Battle is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On February 12, 2022, Deputy Rose and Deputy Matthew Beach responded to a disturbance with all parties on scene. Upon both units arrival Dep. Beach knocked on the side/carport door of the residence. An unknown male inside the residence asked who it was at which time Dep. Beach replied” Sheriff’s Office”. After a couple of seconds there was a gunshot from inside the residence and a female started screaming. Dep. Beach yelled for Dep. Rose at which time he attempted to kick in the door to gain access. Dep. Rose was able to break the door in with his shoulder. Dep. Beach recognized a female lying on the kitchen floor along with a male subject on top of her with a handgun. Dep. Beach ordered the subject to drop the gun. Dep. Rose entered the residence behind Dep. Beach and they were able to place the male in custody without further incident. After taking the male subject into custody it was discovered the subject was the victim’s husband, and he had attempted to shoot her twice but failed. It was also learned that the suspect covered the female in gasoline and had threatened to set her on fire.

Deputy Rose is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On February 12, 2022, Deputy Beach and Deputy Logan Rose responded to a disturbance with all parties on scene. Upon both units arrival Dep. Beach knocked on the side/carport door of the residence. An unknown male inside the residence asked who it was at which time Dep. Beach replied” Sheriff’s Office”. After a couple of seconds there was a gunshot from inside the residence and a female started screaming. Dep. Beach yelled for Dep. Rose at which time he attempted to kick in the door to gain access. Dep. Rose was able to break the door in with his shoulder. Dep. Beach recognized a female lying on the kitchen floor along with a male subject on top of her with a handgun. Dep. Beach ordered the subject to drop the gun. Dep. Rose entered the residence behind Dep. Beach and they were able to place the male in custody without further incident. After taking the male subject into custody it was discovered the subject was the victim’s husband, and he had attempted to shoot her twice but failed. It was also learned that the suspect covered the female in gasoline and had threatened to set her on fire.

Deputy Beach is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

On Thursday, June 24th 2021 at 1009 hours Deputy Quincy Cannon responded to a motor vehicle accident with injuries on Windsor Spring Rd just south of Tobacco Road. Upon arriving on scene and making contacting with the driver of an overturned vehicle, Deputy Cannon observed that the driver was missing his left arm and was losing a lot of blood. Deputy Cannon quickly returned to his vehicle and retrieved a tourniquet from the patrol car. Deputy Cannon was able to successfully apply the tourniquet to stop the bleeding prior to helping the driver out of the overturned vehicle. A follow up was conducted with AUMC on the driver on June 29th 2021. The medical staff was not able to re-attach his arm but he is now up walking around and is doing good with the recovery. If it was not for the quick decision to retrieve a tourniquet from the patrol and properly apply it above the amputated arm, I believe that the driver would have died due to this significant life-threatening injury.

The dedication, compassion and quick thinking that Deputy Cannon exhibited this day in saving a life makes him a valuable asset to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.