2 Deputies receive Medals of Valor

Two Stephens County Sheriff’s deputies recently received the Department’s Medal of Valor for Heroism after they saved the life of a man who tried to commit suicide.

Deputies Tim Hill and Herbie Shirley were presented with the award at the Department’s annual Christmas banquet in December.

According to Sheriff Randy Shirley, it happened last fall when deputies responded to a call in the Shorewood community.

“When deputies arrived, they found a man on a ladder with a rope tied to a limb and wrapped around his neck,” he said.

As one deputy began to talk to the man, the other deputy quietly tried to inch closer to the ladder.

The man, whose name has not been released, is a Vietnam veteran and told deputies he was distraught over the death of his wife and ongoing financial troubles.

“Once EMS arrived, for some reason, the man bent his knees and and dropped straight down,” he said.

Immediately both deputies rushed to the ladder, according to Shirley and grabbed the man as the rope tightened around his neck.

“The two immediately rushed to the ladder, where they were able to cut him down,” he said.

The Sheriff said paramedics rushed in and the victim was then air lifted to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta where he spent a month in recovery.

Shirley said he is very proud of his deputies and their swift action that saved the man’s life, and he says he is putting their names in for a State commendation.

Meantime, Shirley says the man whose life his deputies saved later thanked them profusely.

He said deputies Hill and Shirley continue to stay in touch with the man and help him whenever possible.