Daleville officers receive recognition for rescue response

During an April 15 city council meeting, five officers from the Daleville Department of Public Safety received recognition for their actions in response to a recent medical emergency.

Daleville Police Chief Harvey Mathis presented certificates of recognition to officers Noah Suiter, Jonathan Morgan, Seth Fitts, Ryan Phillips and Lt. Michael Kiley. The officers were nominated by resident Richard Underwood for their rapid response to a medical emergency call concerning Underwood’s wife, Brenda, who collapsed due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

Underwood said the officers arrived on scene within two minutes of his 911 call, and worked quickly and efficiently to transport his wife to nearby medical center.

“The work they did was spectacular,” Underwood said. “These guys deserve more than a sheet a paper—I don’t what I could give them. The work they did that night was tremendous.”

Underwood said the officers also took great care of Underwood and his family in the process of attempting to save his wife’s life, who later passed away following transport to a local hospital.

“If it was something she could have recovered from, these guys would of saved her,” John Lowery, Underwood’s son, said.

Chief Mathis said the hospital’s emergency room nurses commended the officers’ actions as well.

“In just a normal course of a day of their work with the Daleville Department of Public Safety, they affected Mr. Underwood’s life a great deal,” Mathis said. “They reached out and did everything they could.”

The officers are the first to receive an award from the department’s new employee awards and recognition program. Mathis began the program in February in order to formally acknowledge outstanding actions and efforts by DDPS employees.

“In the course of normal duties, many officers do not always get recognized, even though a lot of times they are involved in helping someone,” Mathis said. “I’m very proud of them—they reflect greatly upon the city of Daleville.”

Mayor Claudia Wigglesworth also recognized the officers for their actions, and also thanked the family for nominating them for the award.

“It’s really important when we have citizens come forward, at a public meeting, and offer their appreciation to our men and women in uniform,” Wigglesworth said.

Daleville community members can submit award recommendations for any active employee or volunteer of the DDPS. The nominator should have firsthand knowledge of the action that merited the nomination or information that justifies the requested award.

A general criterion for the awards includes episodes of heroism, outstanding investigative work, exceptional duty performance or distinguished service to the citizens of Daleville. For more information about the program or to submit a nomination, contact the DDPS at 598-4442.