FRENCH LICK, Indiana — Two deputies, a dispatcher and four corrections officers from Daviess County have received Indiana Sheriffs’ Association Lifesaving Awards for responses ranging from a water rescue and mental-health emergencies to lifesaving aid inside the county jail.
WBIW reported July 23 that the seven public-safety members were recognized Wednesday during the association’s annual conference in French Lick. A separate WWBL report confirmed the recipients and the actions behind the awards.
Deputies honored for water rescue and crisis response
Deputy Tyler Ramsey received a Lifesaving Award for quick action during a water rescue in July 2025, according to the local reports. The published accounts do not identify the person rescued or provide additional circumstances, so ThinBlueNews is not adding details beyond the documented recognition.
Deputy William Webster was recognized for de-escalating an encounter involving a person experiencing a serious mental-health crisis. WBIW described Webster’s response as compassionate and exceptional, while WWBL’s shorter account likewise tied his award to the crisis response.
Dispatcher recognized for calm work during emergency call
Daviess County Central Dispatch employee Sylvester Maang received a Lifesaving Award for his work during a call involving a person in a mental-health crisis.
WBIW credited Maang’s composure, active listening and telecommunications work during the emergency. His recognition highlights the role dispatchers play in gathering information, keeping callers engaged and coordinating the field response before responders arrive.
Four corrections officers aided stricken colleague
Corrections officers Jason Baker, Angela Divine, Claude Williams and Owen McCracken were honored for responding when a fellow corrections officer suffered a medical emergency on duty.
According to WBIW, the four officers provided critical aid until emergency medical personnel arrived, and their response saved their colleague’s life. The report did not publish the colleague’s name or medical details; ThinBlueNews is preserving that privacy boundary.
Awards recognize different links in one public-safety chain
The seven awards span patrol, emergency communications and corrections. Together, they show that lifesaving public-safety work can begin in the water, over a dispatch line, during a behavioral-health crisis or inside a secure facility.
Readers can find more verified stories in ThinBlueNews’ officer recognition, deputy sheriff hero stories, first responder news and positive police news coverage.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a suicidal or mental-health crisis in the United States, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call 911 if there is immediate danger.
Sources, photo attribution and video status
- WBIW: “Daviess County Sheriff’s Deputies, Dispatcher, and Jail Staff receive Statewide Lifesaving Awards,” published July 23, 2026. The directly inspected report names all seven recipients, describes the four award circumstances and labels the ceremony images as photos provided by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department.
- WWBL: “Members of Daviess Co. Sheriff’s Office and Central Dispatch Receive Lifesaving Awards,” published July 23, 2026. The independent local report confirms the conference, recipients and award reasons and credits its photos to the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office.
Featured-image note: The image is a real ceremony photo provided by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office to the two local publishers. It shows the four corrections award recipients after the events; it does not depict a rescue, crisis response or medical emergency. ThinBlueNews used the photo for this attributed editorial report and added only headline and source labeling. No people or incident scene were generated.
Video note: Neither inspected local report publishes or identifies body-camera, dashcam, rescue, briefing or ceremony video material to this recognition story. The article does not materially depend on footage, so no video embed is required or represented.
If an agency representative, responder or reader sees anything that should be corrected or updated, please contact ThinBlueNews through our corrections and editorial standards page.