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Good job Bill.
One rescued a fellow firefighter after he was trapped under a high pressure water hose. Another organized a charity softball game and raised $14,000 for victims of domestic violence. And the last saved a man who suffered a heart attack on his birthday.
The recipients of this year's South Augusta Exchange Club's annual Public Safety Awards all surpassed expectations to make their communities safer, their supervisors said at a ceremony Tuesday at T's Restaurant on Mike Padgett Highway.
Richmond County Fire Department Lt. Neal Brown described how Lt. William Dickerson threw himself on a high pressure hose that was swinging out of control and had injured a co-worker.
The incident, which occurred as they tried to extinguish a blaze at the 154-year-old Southern Milling Co. Building on Twiggs Street last year, broke the fellow firefighter's collarbone and leg and would likely have killed him if Lt. Dickerson hadn't taken action and brought the hose under control, Lt. Brown said.
"That's like diving on a hand grenade as far as I'm concerned," Lt. Brown said. "Those things will beat you to death."
Lt. Dickerson said his action was second nature.
"It was a fellow firefighter," he said. "He was hurt and his life was in danger, so I just dived in."
He will share the honor with firefighter Lt. Robert Morris, who won for aiding a fellow firefighter who suffered a heart attack.
The firefighter, Rick Perry, was on vacation and celebrating his birthday when he went into cardiac arrest.
Lt. Dickerson said he had no idea he would be treating a co-worker when he was dispatched to Mr. Perry's home. He was able to stabilize Mr. Perry and get him to the hospital.
Deputy Bill Walker won the award for the Richmond County Sheriff's Office. Deputy Walker helped organize a charity softball game with North Augusta Public Safety, which raised $14,000 for local charities.
"Your family sees what you do every day, but having an outside organization approve of what you do, it's a good feeling," Deputy Walker said.
Reach Adam Folk at (706) 823-3339 or adam.folk@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Good job Bill.
I believe the third to last paragraph should read Lt. Morris instead of Lt. Dickerson. Lt. Morris is the firefighter that helped Mr. Perry when having a heart attack, not Lt. Dickerson.
Congrats! Now these are the kind of people who deserve to win an award.
These guys take abuse from the public everyday and still continue to do the job. This shows how dedicated they are to the things they believe in. Any firefighter or law enforcement officer would do what these men have done because they are men of character and character counts for something.
Very dedicated and appreciated professionals - thanks for all each of you do to make our community better.
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