FORT SMITH, Ark. — Barling Police Officer Cody Douglas has been honored with a Hometown Hero Award after officials said his quick action helped save a person whose vehicle went into the Arkansas River.
The River Valley Democrat-Gazette reported that U.S. Attorney Kevin Holmes presented the award Wednesday at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas in Fort Smith. The recognition centered on Douglas’ actions during a late-night rescue on April 6, 2025.
According to the report, emergency dispatchers received a 911 call at about 11:30 p.m. from a person who said they had unintentionally driven into the Arkansas River in Barling and that the car was taking on water. The account cited the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office for the initial rescue details.
Douglas arrived first at Springhill Park, checked the boat ramp and saw a person struggling to stay afloat, authorities reported. Holmes said Douglas, aware of the personal risk, shed his duty gear and entered the river to render aid.
“He embodies what it means to serve with integrity, courage and heart,” Holmes said, according to the River Valley Democrat-Gazette. “The Hometown Hero Award recognizes this dedication to service and the risk he has taken for others.”
The report said Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office Corporal John O’Mara and Deputy Devin Smothers also provided direct help. O’Mara entered the water to help Douglas get the person toward shore, while Smothers positioned himself on the boat ramp to assist in pulling them out. Members of the Barling Fire Department tossed a rescue rope to the deputies and Douglas.
The rescue was successful, and the person was taken to a local hospital for treatment, according to the report. ThinBlueNews is not naming the rescued person because the source report did not identify them.
Holmes said Douglas’ actions “directly contributed to saving a life.” The report also noted that Douglas joined the Barling Police Department on Sept. 19, 2022.
For communities that support law enforcement, the story is another reminder that the work often starts before a ceremony, before a public quote and before anyone knows whether a rescue will end safely. In Barling, a 911 call from a sinking car became a river rescue involving police, sheriff’s deputies and firefighters working toward the same goal: getting one person back to shore alive.
Source reviewed: River Valley Democrat-Gazette report by Penny Weaver, including source photo captions and attribution to the U.S. Attorney’s Office award presentation and Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office rescue details.
Featured image note: the image uses the River Valley Democrat-Gazette/Penny Weaver award-presentation photo as a real source-backed visual with ThinBlueNews headline labeling. No AI-generated rescue scene or fake incident imagery was used.