Sheriff to Shorten Sentences for Ga. Inmates Who Saved Deputy Who Passed Out During Work Detail

The Georgia inmates who rescued a Polk County deputy who had collapsed while on security detail are getting some well-deserved time knocked off of their sentences after their kind and courageous acts earlier this month.

Polk County Sheriff Johnny Moats said that the six inmates would be getting their sentences shortened after rushing to the aid of the deputy, who Moats said suffers from a chronic medical condition that makes him sensitive to changes in temperature, CNN reports.

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As the network notes, inmates serving time in a county jail typically earn two days’ time off for each day served. Those who volunteer for work detail can earn three days for every one, and those on good behavior can earn up to four. Moats said that the six inmates’ valiant efforts called for the highest reward, knocking off about one-fourth of their sentences in total.

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“Anytime we have a trustee or inmate crew that goes beyond normal duties, we cut them some extra time off,” Moats told WXIA.

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Earlier this month, the inmates drew praise after they rushed into action upon seeing the deputy collapse, opening the officer’s shirt and removing his bulletproof vest in case CPR was needed and so he could breathe. One inmate grabbed the officer’s phone and dialed 911.

“None of my guys ran,” the deputy, who wished to remain anonymous for medical reasons, told WXIA. “None of them did anything they shouldn’t have done.”

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The deputy said that he knew the men well from working with them seven hours a day and five days a week. And the inmates immediately noticed something was out of the norm that day before he collapsed.

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“I started coughing spells, and every time I got those, I’d get hotter,” the deputy said. “It was just harder to keep up ... I just finally went down after a couple of minutes doing that.”

He said he believes the high humidity that day contributed to his collapse. Luckily, the inmates were there to help.

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“That moment when they’re out, they’re not really inmates to you,” the deputy said. “They’re just a group of guys and you’re out. You try to be more like friends, and in my case, it just worked out for the better.”

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Read more at CNN and WXIA.