Bossier Sheriff’s Deputies Earn Lifesaving Awards

Five Bossier Sheriff's Deputies have received a Lifesaving Award from VFW National Commander John Biedrzycki, Jr.

The presentation was made by past VFW State Commander Ken Koval during a ceremony at the Viking Drive Substation yesterday.

The recipients are:

Deputy Erin Tindall, an eight-year veteran of the sheriff's office, who performed the Heimlich maneuver on a 9-year-old child who was unresponsive at a home in north Bossier Parish on March 22. Tindall noticed the child's distress, discoloration and unconsciousness as signs of an obstructed airway.

Lt. David Reynolds and Deputies Jay Williams and Darryl Ware, Jr., who risked their lives March 9 to rescue an elderly man trapped inside his flooded home in a Haughton neighborhood. Ware went in and located the man, while Lt. Reynolds and Deputy Williams pried the door open so the three could float the man out of the house on his recliner.

Sgt. Daniel Wolff, who decided to take an alternate route to work during flooding on March 9, when he came upon a motorist who was trapped on top of his vehicle on Hwy. 3. Wolff grabbed a rope from his vehicle and told the motorist to tie it around himself so he could pull the man to safety. The man's vehicle was swept away by floodwater during the process.

"This shows you the quality of the people we have working for us here in the Bossier Sheriff's Office," said Sheriff Julian Whittington. "They're always willing to do what's needed to ensure the safety of our residents, even at great risk to themselves. I'm proud of these deputies. This is what these men and women train for. The public places their trust in us to serve and protect them, and to save lives, and that's what they have done."

Inscribed on the award is:

In grateful recognition and sincere appreciation of your promt and selfless life-saving action. Your personal initiative and prompt response without thought to your personal safety resulting in saving the life of another, is one of the highest obligations to humanity. Your valor and heroic efforts will serve as an inspiration to others, and especially the Veterans of Foreign Wars.