Deputy Brandon Phillips,

  On September 4, 2016, Deputy Brandon Phillips and Deputy Corey Schettino were serving dinner on F-Pod at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center when they discovered an inmate hanging from the top bunk with his bed sheet around his neck. The inmate was unresponsive and showed no signs of life. Deputy Brandon Phillips immediately put out the call for a medical emergency over the radio, while Deputy Corey Schettino lifted the inmate and then they both were able to remove the sheet from around the inmate’s neck. Deputy Corey Schettino began chest compressions while Deputy Brandon Phillips requested for someone to respond with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).  The nurse, Teresa Leslie arrived at the cell and took over performing chest compressions. Sergeant Jessie Kent arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and took over performing chest compressions from the nurse. Deputy Brandon Phillips used the AMBU bag to administer oxygen to the inmate. They continued to perform CPR on the inmate until they were relieved by the EMTs. Because of their quick actions the inmate’s life was saved.

Deputy Corey Schettino,

  On September 4, 2016, Deputy Brandon Phillips and Deputy Corey Schettino were serving dinner on F-Pod at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center when they discovered an inmate hanging from the top bunk with his bed sheet around his neck. The inmate was unresponsive and showed no signs of life. Deputy Brandon Phillips immediately put out the call for a medical emergency over the radio, while Deputy Corey Schettino lifted the inmate and then they both were able to remove the sheet from around the inmate’s neck. Deputy Corey Schettino began chest compressions while Deputy Brandon Phillips requested for someone to respond with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).  The nurse, Teresa Leslie arrived at the cell and took over performing chest compressions. Sergeant Jessie Kent arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and took over performing chest compressions from the nurse. Deputy Brandon Phillips used the AMBU bag to administer oxygen to the inmate. They continued to perform CPR on the inmate until they were relieved by the EMTs. Because of their quick actions the inmate’s life was saved.

Teresa Leslie,

On September 4, 2016, Deputy Brandon Phillips and Deputy Corey Schettino were serving dinner on F-Pod at the Charles B. Webster Detention Center when they discovered an inmate hanging from the top bunk with his bed sheet around his neck. The inmate was unresponsive and showed no signs of life. Deputy Brandon Phillips immediately put out the call for a medical emergency over the radio, while Deputy Corey Schettino lifted the inmate and then they both were able to remove the sheet from around the inmate’s neck. Deputy Corey Schettino began chest compressions while Deputy Brandon Phillips requested for someone to respond with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).  The nurse, Teresa Leslie arrived at the cell and took over performing chest compressions. Sergeant Jessie Kent arrived on the scene shortly afterwards and took over performing chest compressions from the nurse. Deputy Brandon Phillips used the AMBU bag to administer oxygen to the inmate. They continued to perform CPR on the inmate until they were relieved by the EMTs. Because of their quick actions the inmate’s life was saved.

Deputy Ryan Jones,

On July 4, 2016 at approximately 1715 hours, Deputy Richard Palocsik and Deputy William Jarrett, while patrolling in the Sheriff's Office boat, were dispatched to a suicidal person in the middle of the Savannah River. Upon arrival, they observed a male subject in the water yelling for them to shoot him. They also saw Deputy Ryan Jones swimming from the shore with a life vest on towards the subject. Deputy Ryan Jones got into the Sheriff’s Office boat with Deputies Palocsik and Jarrett. The deputies tried talking to the subject to encourage him to get out of the water, but the subject refused. A life jacket was thrown to the subject which he threw aside and multiple attempts were made to try and pull the subject into the boat. The subject was combative and refused multiple attempts to rescue him. DNR, who was on the scene by this time, threw a rope to the subject. The subject then tied the rope around his neck and dived under the boat. Seeing this, Deputy Jarrett and Deputy Jones dived into the water and then began to struggle with the subject to remove the rope from his neck. Deputy William Jarrett and Deputy Ryan Jones subdued the subject in the water and with assistance of others, removed the subject from the water and placed the subject in the boat. The subject was then transported to GRU hospital.

Deputy William Jarrett,

On July 4, 2016 at approximately 1715 hours, Deputy Richard Palocsik and Deputy William Jarrett, while patrolling in the Sheriff's Office boat, were dispatched to a suicidal person in the middle of the Savannah River. Upon arrival, they observed a male subject in the water yelling for them to shoot him. They also saw Deputy Ryan Jones swimming from the shore with a life vest on towards the subject. Deputy Ryan Jones got into the Sheriff’s Office boat with Deputies Palocsik and Jarrett. The deputies tried talking to the subject to encourage him to get out of the water, but the subject refused. A life jacket was thrown to the subject which he threw aside and multiple attempts were made to try and pull the subject into the boat. The subject was combative and refused multiple attempts to rescue him. DNR, who was on the scene by this time, threw a rope to the subject. The subject then tied the rope around his neck and dived under the boat. Seeing this, Deputy Jarrett and Deputy Jones dived into the water and then began to struggle with the subject to remove the rope from his neck. Deputy William Jarrett and Deputy Ryan Jones subdued the subject in the water and with assistance of Deputy Richard Palocsik, removed the subject from the water and placed the subject in the boat. The subject was then transported to GRU hospital.

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

Deputy Richard (Ricky) Palocsik,

On July 4, 2016 at approximately 1715 hours, Deputy Richard Palocsik and Deputy William Jarrett, while patrolling in the Sheriff's Office boat, were dispatched to a suicidal person in the middle of the Savannah River. Upon arrival, they observed a male subject in the water yelling for them to shoot him. They also saw Deputy Ryan Jones swimming from the shore with a life vest on towards the subject. Deputy Ryan Jones got into the Sheriff’s Office boat with Deputies Palocsik and Jarrett. The deputies tried talking to the subject to encourage him to get out of the water, but the subject refused. A life jacket was thrown to the subject which he threw aside and multiple attempts were made to try and pull the subject into the boat. The subject was combative and refused multiple attempts to rescue him. DNR, who was on the scene by this time, threw a rope to the subject. The subject then tied the rope around his neck and dived under the boat. Seeing this, Deputy Jarrett and Deputy Jones dived into the water and then began to struggle with the subject to remove the rope from his neck. Deputy William Jarrett and Deputy Ryan Jones subdued the subject in the water and with assistance of Deputy Richard Palocsik, removed the subject from the water and placed the subject in the boat. The subject was then transported to GRU hospital.

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

Deputy Charles Gunn is to be commended for his actions based on his part in performing CPR on an unresponsive individual.

On May 2, 2016, Deputy Charles Gunn and Deputy Allen Crispin responded to 2018 Broome Road in reference to shots fired with one down. Upon arrival, it was determine that no one had been shot but there was an unresponsive female in the bath tub. Deputy Allen Crispin and Deputy Charles Gunn pulled the unresponsive subject out of the tub, placed her on the floor, and began CPR until Augusta Richmond County Fire Engine 12 and Med 24 arrived. First Responders continued CPR until they finally got a pulse and a blood pressure. The patient was transported to University Hospital and was in stable condition at that time.  Deputy Charles Gunn’s and Deputy Allen Crispin’s quick thinking and performing CPR saved the life of the unresponsive female.

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

Corporal James Ouzts is to be commended for his actions based on his part in the apprehension of two murder suspects.

  On April 12, 2016 Corporal James Ouzts was working special duty at the S Bar at 1505 North Leg Rd.  At approximately 0130 hours, Corporal Ouzts heard a gunshot come from the area of Idlewild Dr. and then drove toward the sound searching for any signs.  Corporal Ouzts observed a white Ford Taurus with a GA paper tag, occupied by two black males turning onto North Leg road with the headlights turned off. Corporal Ouzts initiated a traffic stop making contact with the driver and passenger. Corporal Ouzts explained to the driver that he heard a gunshot come from the area where the driver was just seen, and the driver gave Corporal Ouzts permission to search his person and the vehicle. As Corporal Ouzts had the driver exit the vehicle, the driver stated that there was a pistol in the vehicle. Corporal Ouzts recovered a black Ruger .357 magnum revolver with five live rounds and one spent casing that was located between the driver’s seat and the center console.  As Corporal Ouzts was securing the weapon and the driver in his car, dispatch put out a call for shots fired, one down on Idlewild Dr. Both subjects and the weapon were turned over to CID and the subjects were also charged with the murder of the victim on Idlewild Dr.  Corporal Ouzts took the initiative to respond to an incident that was beyond the scope of his special, and was able to catch two murder suspects before the incident was ever reported.

Corporal James Ouzts is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

Corporal Patrick Blanchard is to be commended based on his actions involving a subject on fire.

  On April 22, 2016 at approximately 0805 hours, Corporal Patrick Blanchard responded to 1206 Eisenhower Drive in reference to an alarm. While en-route to the call, dispatch advised that there was a male on fire at the residence. When Corporal Blanchard arrived, he found the sunroom on the rear of the home engulfed in flames and a male subject on fire attempting to crawl out. Corporal Blanchard was unable to reach the subject so he retrieved his fire extinguisher and returned to the subject. Corporal Blanchard and Gold Cross EMS were able to remove the subject from the rear of the house. EMS took over care of the subject while Corporal Blanchard continued to extinguish the fire until the Fire Department arrived on the scene. Although the victim later died from his injuries sustained in the fire, another resident of the home was uninjured in the fire and several animals were safely removed from the house. This incident serves as an example of how an otherwise routine call can turn into a dramatic situation.

Corporal Patrick Blanchard is a credit to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Augusta Richmond County.

Deputy Christopher Tucker is to be commended for his actions based on his part in the rescue of Individuals involved in a vehicle fire. 

   On Saturday, April 2, 2016 Deputy Christopher Tucker (T-8) was dispatched to the scene of a single vehicle accident on the 1800 Block of Gordon Hwy.  On his arrival Deputy Tucker found the vehicle in flames with a driver and three passengers still inside the vehicle.  Deputy Charles Cramer (T-15) arrived on the scene shortly after Deputy Tucker’s arrival to help with the incident. While Deputy Tucker was assisting the driver and the three passengers from the vehicle, Deputy Cramer gathered several fire extinguishers from additional patrol cars at the scene to keep the flames at bay.  Deputy Christopher Tucker’s and Deputy Charles Cramer's quick thinking and speed to react was instrumental in the rescue efforts. 

Deputy Christopher Tucker’s and Deputy Charles Cramer’s actions are in keeping with the highest standards of professionalism in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office and reflect the type of dedication, caring and hard work that makes this agency what it is and has us all striving to make it better.