Six inmates who saved guard's life rewarded with shorter sentences

Authored by cbsnews.com and submitted by Miskatonica
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It's one of the scariest calls a sheriff can receive. But when Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats got that call on June 12, it didn't turn into the nightmare scenario he might have expected. On the contrary, that hair-raising call was the start of something heartwarming.

Its unexpected source? A group of selfless inmates.

On that Monday, an especially humid day in Georgia, six inmates were out doing maintenance work on the grounds of a local cemetery when the deputy sheriff assigned to guard them suddenly collapsed from the heat.

As the officer lost consciousness, the six inmates surely could have run. They could have taken the fallen officer's pistol to aid in their escape. They could have even driven away in the work van, perhaps crossing state lines before anyone noticed. Instead, however, the six men jumped into action and saved the deputy sheriff's life.

The inmates performing work detail. Polk County Sheriff's Office

Thinking quickly, one of the inmates used the deputy's cellphone to dial 911. Others removed his bulletproof vest in an attempt to cool the officer off and render it easier for emergency personnel to perform CPR once they arrived.

"When that happened, in my opinion, it wasn't about who is in jail and who wasn't," Greg Williams, one of the inmates, told WXIA in Atlanta. "It was about a man going down, and we had to help him."

Help him, they did. The deputy, who reportedly lost consciousness due to complications from a brain surgery he had 10 years ago, has fully recovered. And now, as a way of saying thanks, the Polk County Sheriff's Office is helping them right back.

The pizza and desserts the inmates enjoyed as a reward for their good deed. Polk County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Moats is recommending that the six inmates, who are all nonviolent offenders, receive reduced sentences for their good deed. Some may even be released with time served.

In the meantime, the department threw the six men a pizza party in the park, complete with homemade desserts from the family of the officer they saved.

It's a sweet ending, made all the sweeter because everyone involved knows what could have happened had the inmates reacted differently.

"As we watched the horrific manhunt this week of the two inmates that killed two Correctional Officers and were captured last night," the Polk County Sheriff's Office wrote in a post on Facebook after the lunch, referring to the violent escape of Georgia inmates Donnie Rowe and Ricky Dubose, "we all know that Monday could have ended differently for our Officer. We are very proud of the actions of all 6 inmates involved."

gereblueeyes on May 3rd, 2020 at 16:09 UTC »

I worked in a county jail, as a Cook ( CA) The work detail systems are pretty universal among county jails. These guys are Non-violent offenders. Most likely DWI, possession in small amounts, non payment of traffic fines, etc. These guys aren't interested in escaping. They understand that if they do, they might actually go to prison and do REAL TIME. Especially, if they took the gun !

sonofabutch on May 3rd, 2020 at 15:50 UTC »

In the 16th century, an Anabaptist named Dirk Willems was imprisoned by the authorities for rejecting Catholicism. He escaped from jail and ran across the iced-over moat; starved from the meager prison rations, he was light enough to cross. But the guard pursuing him was not, and broke through the ice. Willems turned back and rescued the man.

Willems was then re-arrested, tortured, and executed by being burned at the stake.

chacham2 on May 3rd, 2020 at 15:46 UTC »

The original story has a little more detail, including a video explaining that he told them where his phone was in case something should happen.

Another article explains how much time they got off:

Moats said prisoners in Polk County jail already earn two days time served for every day they spend in the county jail. Those who volunteer for work detail earn three days for every one.

Moats said he would give these men credit for four days for every one served.

“I can’t do that if they are sentenced to prison,” Moats said.

It’s what is traditionally called “time off for good behavior” and applied to any future sentence.