Three Thurston County Sheriff’s Office employees receive life-saving awards

Three Thurston County Sheriff’s Office employees recently earned life-saving awards for their actions across three separate incidents.
“All three of these employees exemplify the highest level of standard in policing, and we are proud of their actions and commitment to the citizens of Thurston County,” Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders said in a social media post on Tuesday.

In the first incident, Deputy Carney responded to a shooting in progress in Lacey. Upon arrival, Carney located a 31-year-old victim with a gunshot wound to the leg with arterial bleeding.

Carney quickly applied a tourniquet and provided critical life-saving measures prior to medical personnel arriving.

“For his quick and decisive actions at a hectic and active shooting scene, Deputy Carney was presented the life-saving award,” Sanders wrote.
In the second incident, Deputy Grubbs witnessed a collision occur in Yelm. When Grubbs moved in to assist, she found the driver alone, unconscious and suffocating on a plastic bag which had ended up covering their airway during the collision. Grubbs intervened, removed the bag, and provided medical care for the patient until medics arrived.

“For her attentiveness and quick action to intervene, Deputy Grubbs was presented the life-saving award,” Sanders stated.

In the final incident, Sergeant Clark was dispatched to a high-speed collision in Tumwater. Upon arrival, Clark noted the collision was so severe the engine was ejected from the car, and the car was on fire as components in the vehicle began popping.

Clark extracted the driver from his burning car and returned a second time to make sure the car was empty.

“For his selfless and expedient call to action, Sergeant Clark was presented the life-saving award,” Sanders said.