PRESS RELEASE
Two CCSO Deputies Receive Governor’s Public Safety Award
CRISP COUNTY- December 1, 2023
Crisp County Sheriff's Office is incredibly proud to announce that Corporal Jack Masters and Deputy Kendall Evans received the Act of Heroism Award at the Governor's Public Safety Awards Ceremony. Corporal Jack Masters and Deputy Kendall were nominated for exhibiting exceptional courage, regardless of personal safety, in an attempt to save or protect human life.
On October 22, 2022, at approximately 10:30 PM, Crisp County Dispatch put out a call of an Active Shooter at 16 East Bar and Grill in Cordele, Georgia. Cordele Police Department and Crisp County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to the scene. Multiple patrons were injured with gunshot wounds. Officers from Cordele Police Department began tending to the wounded. Without mental reservation of mind, Deputy Evans and Corporal Masters went into the establishment, knowing there was still a shooter inside. Quickly, they made it through the people trying to exit and gathered intel on the shooter, resulting in his apprehension within minutes of the first round fired. They put their safety aside and ran to the threat to deal with it before any other person could be harmed. This a testament to the Crisp County Sheriff’s Office motto of “Service Before Self.” Deputy Evans and Corporal Masters displayed an act of extraordinary heroism at the imminent personal hazard of life in the intelligent performance of Law Enforcement Duty.
The Governor's Public Safety Awards Program (GPSA) was initiated in 1998 in order to provide an opportunity for the men and women in the public safety family to be recognized for outstanding service to their communities and contributions to their profession.
As per former Governor Zell Miller, who established these awards, "While we have appropriately honored those who have fallen, I would like to establish an organization that would also honor those who by virtue of their personal integrity and determination make public safety the respectable and necessary profession it is." Governor Brian Kemp has committed to the continuation of the GPSA program.
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