County officials, public safety personnel, and residents gathered to recognize Gwinnett County Sheriff’s deputies and Fire and Emergency Services crews for their actions that saved a man’s life at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center this past July.
On July 2, during an event at the center, a man suffered a heart attack. Sheriff’s deputies responded immediately by starting CPR, using an automated external defibrillator (AED), and calling emergency services. Crews from Fire Station 15 arrived within four minutes to provide advanced medical care and restored the patient’s heartbeat while transporting him to the hospital.
Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson commended those involved. “Today we celebrate the courage and professionalism of Gwinnett’s first responders,“ said Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “Because of their swift actions and unwavering commitment to protecting others, a neighbor’s life was saved. Their service is a shining example of the strength and compassion that define who we are as a community.”
Fire Chief Fred Cephas highlighted the collaborative effort. “This was teamwork at its finest,” said Fire Chief Fred Cephas. “From the deputies who acted immediately to the Fire/EMS crews who carried that care forward, every responder played a critical role. Their actions not only saved a life but also reaffirm why training, preparation, and compassion are at the heart of public safety in Gwinnett.”
The following members from the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office were recognized: Assistant Chief James Casey; Major Dontae Royal; Lieutenant Cynthia Young; Lieutenant Anthony Hilliard; Lieutenant Joseph Smith; Sergeant Alicia Baker; Corporal Stephan Santa Maria; Deputy Sheriff Master Gregory Coward; Deputy Sheriff Senior Reginald Fluker; Deputy Sheriff Senior Kimberly Carrol; Deputy Sheriff Master Albert Booker; Deputy Sheriff Master Rosemarie Lewin-Bye; Deputy Sheriff Master Kayon Little; Deputy Sheriff Master Kevin Fieldgrove; Deputy Sheriff Master Garry Fields; and Deputy Sheriff Master Lee Harri.
Honorees from Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services included Lieutenant Alex Armstrong, Driver Engineer Joseph Wilson, Firemedic Senior Austin Franklin, Firemedic Senior Michael Nerroth, and Firefighter/EMT Devin Smith.
Gwinnett County has seen minimal changes in school enrollment recently—numbers increased by less than 0.1% in the 2022-23 school year compared to the previous year according to data from Georgia Department of Education (https://www.gadoe.org/). In total, there were 190,044 students enrolled during that period (https://www.gadoe.org/). White students made up 18% of this student body population in that same academic year (https://www.gadoe.org/).
