Hart County Deputies Honored as Heroes by Corps of Engineers

Three Hart County Sheriff’s deputies and a State Probation officer are honored by the Hartwell Dam and Lake Project and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District for their heroism.

On Monday, a special awards ceremony was held at the Big Oaks Recreation Center Pavillion for deputies Lamar Spears, Wayne Henson and Tim Coggin, and Probation Officer Robert Roach each received certificates for their efforts in saving the life of a bass angler earlier this year.

According to Hartwell Lake Office Project Manager George Branlon, the four were in the area of a bass tournament competition on Hartwell Lake in February when a boat began to sink.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers hereby commends Mr. Lamar Spears, Mr. Wayne Henson, Mr. Tim Coggin, and Mr. Robert Roach for their personal courage and quick thinking in preventing a drowning on Hartwell Lake,” Branlon said. “On February 15, 2015 these gentlemen responded to an emergency call to a boat sinking and the operator in frigid water near the Big Oaks Recreation area on Hartwell Lake. Their actions set into motion a rapid response, which undoubtedly saved the boater’s life.”

Two people died from drowning at Hartwell Lake this year, according to Savannah District records.

Branlon said without the quick action of officers Spears, Henson, Coggin and Roach, along with the assistance from others, another victim would have been added to the list.

“Because of their actions and actions of the Roach family, they were able to successfully alert a fisherman in a nearby boat to render assistance, get the victim out of the cold water and transfer him to Big Oaks where medical assistance soon arrived,” Branlon said. “You were at the right place at the right time.”

Branlon said the certificates cite the courage, quick action and essential assistance each provided to save the victim from almost certain drowning.

Hart County Sheriff Mike Cleveland says he is proud of his officers.

“In this day and time when law enforcement is getting bashed it is really nice to be recognized for the good that our folks do,” Cleveland said. “I’m just glad these folks were here when they were here and everything turned out well.”