During a routine work detail in a public cemetery in Polk County, Georgia, a lone deputy sheriff suddenly collapsed face-first onto the ground. Polk County covers a land area of roughly 312 square miles (808 square kilometers), and the men were working in an isolated section.
Six inmates, all serving time for minor criminal offenses, were completely unsupervised with access to the officer’s transport van and loaded pistol. They faced a choice between seizing an opportunity to escape or stepping in to help the incapacitated guard. Instead of fleeing the scene, the entire group rushed directly toward the fallen officer to execute a life-saving rescue.
The Collapse in the Humidity
The work crew was cutting grass at the cemetery when the corrections officer suffered a suspected heart attack caused by extreme humidity and an underlying medical condition. He fell heavily to the ground, leaving the six prisoners alone. Greg Williams, one of the inmates on the detail, stated to a local television station that the situation was simply about a man going down who needed immediate help. The inmates immediately ran to the lone officer. They stripped off his heavy bullet-proof vest to cool his body temperature down and keep him comfortable until emergency services could arrive.
Calling 911 and Performing CPR
The prisoners completely ignored the officer’s firearm and the transport vehicle. They retrieved the guard’s mobile phone from his pocket and directly dialed 911 to request an ambulance. While waiting for medical personnel to arrive at the cemetery, the men began performing CPR on the unconscious deputy. Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats noted that the men were out there entirely by themselves. If they had abandoned the guard, it could have been hours before anyone discovered him lying in the grass.
Rewarding the Inmate Rescue Crew
Emergency responders arrived and transported the deputy to a local hospital, where he fully recovered and eventually returned to his job. The officer confirmed to reporters that none of the men ran or did anything inappropriate. The very next day, the family of the rescued officer showed their gratitude. They purchased a lunch consisting of pizza and cupcakes, serving the meal to the incarcerated men in a local park as a reward for their actions.
A Significant Reduction in Sentences
Sheriff Moats announced a reduction in the prison terms for all six men. He cut each of their sentences by exactly 25 percent. The sheriff explained that whenever an inmate crew goes beyond their normal duties, the department provides them with extra time off. He also noted that this event demonstrated how his officers treat the inmates like family. This rescue occurred during the same week that two other convicts in the state, Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose, murdered two prison guards during a transport before being captured after a three-day manhunt.