CLEWISTON, FL. -- On February 13, 2019 Deputy Sheriff Darren McNeil responded to US 27 and K Square Road in reference to a vehicle crashing into the canal and it was filling up fast with water. D/S McNeil advised that when he arrived the vehicle was upside down and half way submerged, and none of the windows were visible.
At that time, D/S McNeil, assisted by off duty Fire Fighter Robert Hinton Jr, jumped into the canal, broke the passenger side window, and pulled the young girl to safety.
Deputy Sheriff D. McNeil jumped into the canal with complete disregard for his own safety and assisted in saving the life of a 16 year old girl.
Deputy Sheriff Darren McNeil received the Sheriff’s Life Saving Award, who under true emergency circumstances, acted to prevent the loss of life either by exercising appropriate first aid procedures or by direct intervention. The Life Saving Award is awarded to an employee for competent and expedient action that is directly accountable for sustaining or saving a human life.
Life Saving Award
On February 14, 2019 Deputy Sheriff Blake Branaman was in the area of Flaghole Rd. just south of Kilpatrick Rd, when the dispatcher advised of a vehicle crashing into the canal with three individuals trapped inside.
Deputy Branaman advised that when he arrived the vehicle was upright but the rear end was sinking fast. At that time, Deputy Branaman jumped into the canal and swam to the back of the vehicle because the rear window was already broken. When he got to the rear window he assisted the two children and the mother out of the vehicle to safety. As soon as he got the mother out of the vehicle the vehicle sank immediately.
Deputy Sheriff Blake Branaman received the Sheriff’s Life Saving Award, who under true emergency circumstances, acted to prevent the loss of life’s either by exercising appropriate first aid procedures or by direct intervention. The Life Saving Award is awarded to an employee for competent and expedient action that is directly accountable for sustaining or saving a human life.
On January 3, 2019 in the early morning hours, Undercover Deputies were conducting surveillance when they witnessed a vehicle pull up and park on the shoulder of the road and walk to another community. Undercover deputies found this activity very suspicious and requested assistance from the road patrol unit. It was determined that the vehicle was in fact stolen, rather than taking custody of the vehicle, deputies waited for the subject to return at which time he was apprehended by D/S Hunter Kearns and Sgt. Echevarria.
On February 5, 2019, in the early morning hours K9 Officer Hunter Kearns along with Deputy Coronilla and Sgt. Echevarria responded to the north side of the river in reference to a suspicious person walking in the area of a suspicious vehicle that was found to be stolen. Deputies again waited for the subject to return and were able to arrest to subjects in the theft of the vehicle.
On February 08, 2019, during the early night hours, Sgt. Echevarria was contacted by Deputy Conyers. Deputy Conyers provided Sgt. Echevarria with information,
in reference to a vehicle theft that was going to take place sometime in the night. Deputy
Conyers provided the address to the vehicle and the approximate time it would occur.
Sergeant Echevarria contacted the Undercover Investigator him to watch the location of the vehicle. Later in the night, Corporal Kearns and Sgt. Echevarria responded to the area and began watching the vehicle. Deputy Vasquez and Lieutenant Favara were stationed at a predetermined location and if the theft took place, he would move into the area as the marked patrol vehicle.
While watching the vehicle, Undercover Investigator, K-9 Officer Kearns and Sgt, Echevarria observed a male entered the vehicle and attempted to start it. K-9 Officer Kearns and Sgt. Echevarria converged on the subject and he was apprehended by K-9 Rugar. The subject was taken into custody.
On February 25, 2019, Sgt. James Hester and Deputy Randy Bone responded to a call in the community of Pioneer Plantation and had received information that the man was not in his right mind and was making threats to kill himself. When Deputies arrived on scene they found the man sitting in a chair with a knife to his chest. He told Deputies that he wanted to kill himself.
Many commands were given for him to drop the knife and he would not comply. Deputies calmly spoke with him trying to get him to put the knife down. Hester and Bone were able to take custody of the man without any injuries to him or the deputies. What could have been a devastating situation where a man was prepared to take his own life; both deputies recognized the severity of the situation and took immediate action that prevented all parties from being seriously injured.
Both Sgt. Hester and Deputy Bone were presented with the Sheriff’s Meritorious Conduct Award. This award is for service rendered in the line of duty where the employee because of his/her diligence and perseverance, performs a difficult task in which a human life is protected.
Pictured – Left to Right
Deputy Sheriff Randy Bone, Sheriff Steve Whidden, Sgt. James Hester
On Wednesday November 22, 2017 Deputy Jeff Nunemaker, CHS School Resource Officer was traveling on S.R.29 heading into Hendry County for his tour of duty.
Approximately six (6) miles north of S.R. 78, Deputy Nunemaker came up on a vehicle crash involving a box truck and a SUV type vehicle. Both vehicles came to rest in the southbound lane and the passenger compartment of both vehicles were fully engulfed by fire.
Deputy Nunemaker stopped and exited his patrol vehicle to check for injuries and or life.
He observed two subjects in the ditch close to the burning vehicles and a third subject on the northbound shoulder of the roadway. Deputy Nunemaker then saw two subjects in the rear of the burning box truck.
Deputy Nunemaker climbed into the cargo area of the fully engulfed box truck and removed a male subject bringing him to a safe location. Deputy Nunemaker again entered the fully engulfed box truck and removed an unconscious pregnant female, bringing her to safety.
Deputy Nunemaker with the assistance of by-standers removed the two subjects located in the ditch near the fully engulfed vehicles to a safe location.
Deputy Nunemaker under true emergency circumstances acted to prevent loss of life,
and by his direct intervention saved the lives of three subjects. Deputy Nunemaker
knowingly placed himself in imminent danger in his heroic pursuit to save the lives of
three subjects.
Here today at this event are the surviving women that were removed from the back of the truck and their families. Both of their husbands died in the fire.
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