It’s the type of call no one wants to get, but the sort public safety officials train for. When Habersham County Sheriff’s Deputies Andra Townsend and Chase Trammell were called to a report of a drowning at Lake Russell in Mt. Airy, they wasted no time jumping in to assist.
During the July 17 county commission meeting, Sheriff Joey Terrell recognized Townsend and Trammell for their efforts.
He explained to the commission that one month earlier, on June 17 at 4:30 p.m., the deputies responded to a 911 dispatch to a possible drowning.
“Without any regard for themselves, they stripped off their outer gear and went in the water and started looking for this young man. He was located, and they helped drag him to the shore, and they helped with CPR and stuff until the ambulance got there,” the Sheriff said.
“That’s the kind of folks that work for me. That’s the kind of folks that make me look good. Every day there is something that they do to help one of our citizens,” he added.
Pam Bennett was at the lake that day with her children and grandchildren.
“It was crowded, and I had no idea what had occurred,” she tells Now Habersham. “I saw the female officer. She was the first to begin removing her boots and belt and was the first into the water– no hesitation. I was so proud yet terrified as well.”
Bennett says her two sons-in-law were also part of the rescue attempt, “walking in a line with the officers, diving and searching.” One of them found 12-year-old Brian Ramirez-Miguel of Cornelia and brought him to the surface. Sadly, the boy passed away.
“I am so very proud of everyone involved in this tragedy and so happy to see the female officer get the recognition she deserves,” says Bennett
The recognition they deserve
The recognition was part of the county’s Employee Spotlight Program. Sheriff Terrell explained that he felt the sheriff’s office needed to get involved in the program because, in the past, they weren’t, and he felt “they don’t get the recognition that they should.”
“In this case, both of them are well deserving. For this month, I am proud, proud to have Andy and Chase as employees of the month for Habersham County,” he told commissioners.
Sheriff Terrell also recognized Townsend for assisting with two significant wrecks in the county the weekend of July 15 and 16, including one that killed five people.
He presented a certificate to Townsend to thank her for her service. Trammell was at a training conference and unable to attend.
