Deputy Josh Snow, Sergeant Britton Turner, Deputy Karla Small, Deputy James Barley, and Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman.
Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman presented several awards during a ceremony Thursday to recognize employees who demonstrated exemplary service to their community.
Sergeant Britton Turner and Deputy Karla Small received the Heroic Achievement Award for their actions on July 9, 2022. Around 10:30 a.m., Turner and Small responded to a welfare check on a 35-year-old female reportedly having a psychotic episode and calling 911 for help. Upon arrival, the deputies found the woman’s father attempting to locate her. After a search, the father discovered the woman inside a vehicle in the closed garage, trying to take her own life. The father summoned Turner and Small, who entered the garage where Turner unlocked the driver's door and attempted to wake the woman who was unresponsive. While opening the door, Turner was met with toxic fumes but continued assisting the woman by pulling her from the vehicle. Small was also exposed to the poisonous fumes but remained on scene. Turner carried the woman onto the driveway and began CPR. Paramedics arrived, while Turner continued working with them to perform the compressions. Though the woman did not survive, the heroic actions of Turner and Small are commendable and keeping with the high standards set by the agency.
Deputy Josh Snow received the Life Saving Award for his actions on July 15, 2022. Around 8:30 p.m., Snow responded to the intersection of Proctor Road and U.S. 41 for a vehicle crash involving a motorcyclist. Witnesses relayed details to 911 operators of the victim's ejection from the motorcycle. Snow was first on scene where he located the victim suffering severe leg injuries. Without hesitation, Snow began applying a tourniquet while receiving assistance from an off-duty paramedic. After being transported to the hospital, the trauma surgeon expressed that the precise placement of Snow’s tourniquet was the reason the victim was still alive. Snow aided in preserving human life for a victim in imminent danger of succumbing to his injuries.
Deputy James Barley received the Life Saving Award for his actions on July 29, 2022. Around 8:48 p.m., Barley responded to a traffic crash with injuries. He was the first on scene and immediately located the victim in the driver's seat of a damaged vehicle, where he noticed a significant injury to her left leg and began applying a tourniquet. Fortunately, Barley’s tourniquet quickly and effectively stopped the bleeding. Upon arrival at the hospital, personnel learned that the lacerations of the femoral artery had caused massive blood loss. Without the proper application of the tourniquet, the victim would have very likely died.
“The individuals who receive these awards are those who truly go above and beyond the call of duty,” commented Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman. “Our community can be extremely proud of these heroic acts and the deputies who brought them to fruition.”