Employees with the Bell County Sheriff’s office were recognized for longevity, physical fitness and target shooting skills, among other things.
Details from the life-saving awards included one June incident where an apparent suicide attempt was averted. In another incident in November jail officials saved an inmate from choking.
Cpl. Arden Rivenbark said she acted on instinct and training when she discovered a female inmate in a shower area covered with blood.
The woman was preparing for a transfer and used a smuggled razor blade to cut both her wrists and her carotid artery in her neck.
Ms. Rivenbark said she alerted staff of a medical emergency as soon as she found the woman.
Two other staff members, Timothy Braswell and Edward Huncherick, assisted with medical treatment and received life-saving awards for their roles.
Sheriff Dan Smith said the woman did not appear “at-risk” for suicidal behavior and the incident proved that staff must be ready for the unexpected.
Another inmate was saved by quick-acting jailers Jimmy Bacon and Joseph Tirado. The jailers responded to a medical emergency call in a cell area where an inmate was lying on the floor, shaking uncontrollably and gasping for air.
The men quickly discovered the inmate was choking and dislodged a food item from his airway using the Heimlich Maneuver.
“Caring for inmates requires staff attention 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Smith said. “Our inmate population each year is larger than the city of Belton. We will face medical emergencies. It’s gratifying to save lives.”
The Sheriff’s Award went to lieutenants Charles Grogan and Mary Farley for their work preparing for the transition of inmates into the new jail on Loop 121 in Belton, which is expected to occur this month.
“Both lieutenants have worked their tails off behind the scenes trying to make sure everything is in order to move into the new facility,” Smith said.
Certificates of appreciation were given to two civilians: Morgan Lewing and Mark Meyer.
Lewing is a fitness and nutrition major at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor who challenged department employees to achieve better fitness. He taught a class on diet and exercise and played a role in helping one deputy lose 60 pounds.
Meyer is in charge of the maintenance department for the county and was recognized for undertaking several construction projects that saved the county thousands of dollars, Smith said.
The Top Gun award was given to Investigator Esteban “Stevie” Ramirez III for his marksmanship. Ramirez has won the award nine out of the past 14 years.
Smith joked that he was going to start calling the award the “ER3,” after Ramirez.
Several deputies were recognized with letters of appreciation to be placed in their personnel files, including Deputy Darryle Staton for solving a car burglary case near Lake Belton and Deputy Curtis Nichols for his role in solving another burglary case in the Salado area.
“A lot of employees weren’t recognized today who do a great job, too,” Smith said. “I’m appreciative of everyone on staff and the job that they do everyday.”
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