A Georgia sheriff reportedly says he will reduce the sentencing of six inmates by one-fourth after they saved a prison guard’s life earlier in June.
The officer, who was tasked with security for the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, abruptly collapsed while on the job, according to NBC11. He was accompanying the prisoners who were doing yard work at a cemetery before Father’s Day. Temperatures outside were reportedly around 76 degrees and the humidity was 100 percent.
The prisoners immediately responded by removing the officer’s bulletproof vest so that they could properly give him CPR and so he could better breathe and cool off. One inmate used the officer’s phone to dial 911, which alerted other officers and emergency responders.
Polk inmates save correctional officer who passed out during work detail https://t.co/fhbAp4cqjx pic.twitter.com/X4GOhOp7y9
— 11Alive News (@11AliveNews) June 20, 2017
“When he started breathing, it was just real heavy and real fast,” Greg Williams, one of the prisoners, told NBC11. It took the deputy around one minute to start breathing and regain consciousness.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook that the situation “could have ended differently,” referencing the two inmates in the state that killed two correctional officers. (RELATED: Two Convicted Murderers Continue Killing Spree Behind Bars)
“They really stepped up in a time of crisis and show that they care about my officers,” said Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats. “That really speaks a lot about my officers too, how they treat these inmates. They treat them like people. Like family.”
The family of the officer who passed out and could have possibly lost his life if he was left untreated rewarded the inmates with a free lunch (including desserts). Most importantly, though, Moats said their sentences are going to be reduced by 25 percent, according to Fox59.
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