Linn sheriff recognizes 7 deputies for courage

CEDAR RAPIDS - Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner has recognized seven deputies for acts of courage and service during 2009.

Gardner said he believed the duties deserved recognition “for these extraordinary acts” beyond the commendations and is now recognizing them at the quarterly Linn County Employee Recognition breakfasts.

Those honored are:

-Capt. Rik Haendler and Lt. Greg McGivern with the Medal of Valor - On Jan. 13, Haendler and McGivern arranged to meet a man, for whom the office had court-ordered committal papers, at his home. Though the man was initially cooperative, he drew a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun. Haendler grabbed the man's hand, pinning it to his chest. McGivern leapt in and, after a few minutes of struggling, was able to tear the weapon from the man's grip. The man was arrested and charged with assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon. Haendler suffered a minor injury to his hand.

“It is my firm belief that had these two deputies not have been as tactically aware of their situation as they were, or if deputies had treated this incident as “just another committal order,” the outcome would not have been as favorable and most likely would have resulted in severe injury or death to deputies and/or the suspect,” Gardner said.

-Deputy James Dunn with the Life-Saving Award - While attempting to serve legal papers in southeast Cedar Rapids on April 13, Dunn saw a middle-aged man suffer a medical problem that left him without a pulse. Dunn requested medical assistance and immediately began CPR. The man recovered, and emergency medical responders said Dunn's actions ultimately saved the man's life.

-Deputy Nick Heintz with the Life-Saving Award - On Sept. 12, Heintz, a deputy and paramedic, responded with Hiawatha Ambulance and Monroe Fire to a report of a man suffering from multiple hornet stings. The man suffered an allergic reaction. Unable to breathe, he was unconscious and without a pulse. Heintz administered drugs to combat the affects of the stings and safely sedated the patients. Hiawatha Fire Chief/Paramedic Mike Nesslage credited Heintz with directly saving the man's life. The man made a full recovery.

-Deputy Steve McElmeel with the Medal of Merit - On July 20, while participating in RAGBRAI, McElmeel saw a “combative subject” get an Iowa State trooper in a headlock and take him to the ground. McElmeel came to the trooper's aid, identified himself and delivered a series of elbow strikes to the suspect, thus freeing the trooper. McElmeel then assisted the trooper in taking the suspect into custody. The trooper's commander credited McElmeel's actions with saving the trooper and suspect from serious injury or death.

-Lt. Randy Rowland and Deputy Dick Snow with the Medal of Merit - On July 31, Rowland and Snow assisted during a standoff in Benton County, negotiating with a person who'd fired a weapon at law enforcement officers. They were able to talk the person out of a home without injury to the person or officers.