Three Linn County deputies honored for efforts on duty Alex Steffens, Brandon Stone and Jim Tindal recognized

CEDAR RAPIDS - Three Linn County deputies have been recognized for their efforts while on duty in 2016.

Sheriff Brian Gardner said deputy Alex Steffens was awarded the office's Medal of Valor for his actions on Jan. 19. That evening, Steffens was called to a domestic disturbance in Alburnett. When Steffens arrived alone on scene, he saw two subjects standing in the entrance to the garage.

Steffens realized one of the subjects had an assault rifle. The man - who Steffens recognized from a visit to the residence a week earlier - pointed the rifle at the officer.

Gardner said Steffens drew his sidearm on the man, but the deputy realized using lethal force would put the other subject in the garage at risk. After taking cover behind a tree, Steffens lost sight of the man, who had backed into the garage. Eventually the man's wife told Steffens he had put down the rife and Steffens ordered him out of the garage and to the ground. When other deputies arrived on scene, the man was taken into custody.

The man was discovered to be holding 171 rounds of ammunition, Gardner said.

Gardner said Steffen's use of his tactical training and verbal interactions with the man led to a peaceful resolution to an incident which otherwise could have turned lethal.

The Medal of Valor is given in recognition of a deputy who made an arrest while being met by an armed and dangerous subject, Gardner said. This marks the ninth time during Gardner's tenure he has awarded the commendation.

Deputies Brandon Stone and Jim Tindal were both awarded the Life Saving commendation award for separate incidents.

On May 12, Stone realized a jail inmate was attempting suicide by hanging himself with a bed sheet. Stone cut the bed sheet and allowed other jail staff to provide medical care until rescue personnel arrived.

On Aug. 14, Tindal was called to a Center Point residence for an elderly man who had passed out and was unresponsive. When Tindal found the man, blood and mucous were draining from his airway and his breath was weak. After discovering the man had no pulse, Tindal began chest compressions.

When other first responders came on the scene, Tindal's defibrillator was used to restore the man's heart. The man was hospitalized and recovered from the incident.

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